Indications has emerged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not recognise the re-election of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi on Thursday in Abuja told journalists that the commission was not aware of the Nnewi convention where Abure was re-elected.
He said that INEC did not monitor the convention as prescribed by the electoral Act 2022.
Earlier, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Comrade Kehinde Edun had dismissed the position of INEC insisting that the law only requires political parties to inform INEC of such event and nothing more.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.
However, Edun told journalists shortly before the Nnewi Convention that, “it [convention] is holding in Anambra. Nnewi to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia State again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin City was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time.”