The Deputy National Chairman Of the Labour Party, Ayo Olorunfemi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of creating confusion in the party in the wake of its leadership tussle.
Olorunfemi said this during Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief.
“Assuming the tenure of the NWC has expired, it is not in their (INEC) duty to conduct. It is still the same person whose tenure has expired that would convey the meeting in line with the constitution of the party. So, they (INEC) are here to make trouble, they are here to create confusion,” Olorunfemi said said on the show.
According to him, the electoral umpire ignored the Labour Party when party sent a letter inviting them for its national convention.
“The letter was written even before the 21 days set to submit and of course, Justice Omotosho already confirmed that the 21-day notice was in line with the provision of the Electoral Act,” the LP chieftain said.
“If that notice was not acceptable, INEC has the responsibility to respond to the party and give reasons why we can’t hold the elections but INEC did not say anything and of course, silence means go ahead.”
His comment came after INEC accused the party of not following the Electoral Act for its national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State in March, 2024.
This is even after the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, earlier clarified that the constitution of the party, and not an individual removed Julius Abure as the national chairman.
Olorunfemi further expressed the measures they are taking to salvage the situation.
“We are in court, we had to go to court when we were hearing this rumour and when we weren’t allowed to participate.
“When we took them to court, all they said was our national convention did not follow the Electoral Act. How? Why? They couldn’t explain.”
INEC has refused to recognise Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party, despite retaining his name on its website, on the list of political party chairmen.
INEC insisted in the document that Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party expired in June 2024.
