The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is illegal and unconstitutional for Julius Abure to continue parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP.
The electoral body said it no longer recognises Abure or
other members of the party’s national working committee, as their tenures
expired in June 2024.
This is contained in a counter-affidavit, INEC filed in
response to a suit brought by the Labour Party challenging its exclusion from
the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo
and Ondo governorship elections.
The Commission argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which purportedly re-elected Abure as chairman.
It maintained that the convention contravened both the
Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, stressing that it only deals with
parties that have legitimate leadership in place.
According to a written submission supporting the counter
affidavit, INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, stated that the Labour
Party’s suit seeks declaratory reliefs, which cannot be granted merely by
admission.
They argued that the Labour Party must prove its case, even
with the admissions presented.
The INEC’s lawyers added that, due to the Labour Party’s
failure to adhere to the legal requirements in holding its national convention,
the party no longer has a valid leadership with which INEC can engage.
They prayed the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the
Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking.
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