The immediate past National Treasurer of the Labour Party (LP) Mrs Oluchi Oparah, has demanded the immediate resignation of the embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, over the rejection of the controversial national convention in Anambra State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
TheHintsNews reports that the National Convention was held at Nnewi, Anambra State on 27th March 2024, where Abure was re-elected as the National Chairman of the party.
However, INEC rejected the outcome of the convention, citing contraventions to the Labour Party Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC Guidelines and Regulations for Political Parties 2022.
Oparah told journalists at a media briefing alongside some party bigwigs on Sunday in Abuja that Abure’s position is now vacant over the INEC’s letter and that he should honourably resign.
She stated: “Please recall that in the course of Abure’s ambition to remain as LP chairman after his tenure elapsed on June 9, 2024, he had spared no effort in undermining and transgressing all known legal and moral codes, including convoking, and writing the report of his ill-fated National convention he held at Nnewi, Anambra State on 27th March 2024.
“We are calling on leaders of the party, especially elected members of the party that are statutory delegate to both National Executive Council (NEC) and National Convention to save the party from the impending disaster if Abure is allowed to submit any name to INEC as it will void the candidacy of the prospective aspirant as he no longer has legal authority to do so.”
Oparah said that in light of the letter from INEC, the recognised and registered Labour Party Constitution as provided by INEC to them is that of 2019, so those parading themselves as elected National officers of the Party with the purported 2024 Constitution is null and void.
“The purported 2024 constitution was not accepted by INEC as well as every other aspect of the failed Nnewi Convention.
“This will put to rest all the lies Abure has been spreading about that INEC has approved his convention.
“We know that Julius Abure and his cohorts are hell bent on misinforming unsuspecting members of the public about the failed National Convention especially when it has to do with the election of National officers of our Party and the amendment of our Party’s Constitution which INEC has refused to honour because lack of due process.
“No amount of propaganda can change badly taken decision to a right one when he we all know it failed to follow lay down constitutional provisions, regulations and guidelines.
“The failure by the Julius Abure led leadership to fellow simple regulations and guidelines for the conduct of the purported National convention is too obvious to be ignored by well meaning members of Labour Party and we sincerely thank INEC for upholding the law.
“We stand firm with the commission on the need for an all inclusive National Convention that will ensure that the proper thing is done,” she also said.
However, in a reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh said it was not compulsory for INEC to monitor political parties’ convention, insisting that its Nnewi Convention on March 27, 2024, remained legitimate and legal.
He said that what is paramount is that it met the requirement of informing the commission about the conduct of the said convention within the legally stipulated time frame of 21 days.
He said that INEC has not rejected the outcome of the said convention.
In a letter dated July 18 2024, and signed by its Acting Secretary to the commission, Haliru Aminu, INEC, in response to a request by the LP lawyer to be availed of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of both its report on the said convention and the LP’s constitution said noted that it never monitored the exercise.
“The commission has received your request for a CTC of the monitored report of the Labour Party Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, held on the 27th day of March 2024, and the Labour Party’s Constitution.
“Regrettably, the commission did not monitor the Labour Party Convention of 27th March 2024 and cannot, therefore, report on the Convention”, the INEC’s letter stated.
Ifoh also distanced itself from the said letter of request to INEC saying that it is the handiwork of meddlesome interlopers.
“The LP in compliance to the “Electoral Act of 2022” did notify INEC of its intention to conduct its national convention on the 27th of March 2024, first on December 4th, 2023 (more than 3 months). This was followed by two other notices of change of venue which the party adequately notified the Commission and were acknowledged.
“Therefore, it was not mandatory that INEC must be present during the internal party exercise. So, INEC’s inability to monitor the convention did not in anyway invalidate the internal party activity. INEC has also continued to respect the laws of the land despite pressure from certain quarters to compromise its civic responsibility,” he stated.