Chuks Okochq in Abuja
Controversy is still trailing the just concluded national convention of the Labour Party in Nnewi, Anambra State as the party has released a document to support its claims that it duly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated time before its national convention.
The LP had first written to notify INEC that the national convention will take place in Benin, the Edo State capital. Later, it moved the venue to Umuahia in Abia and later also it moved the venue to Nnewi in Anambra State.
In a document to justify that it indeed notified INEC of its national convention, the Labour Party said it gave a 100 days notice instead of the normal 21 days.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, made the document public in Abuja, late on Thursday
According to Ifoh, “The Electoral Act says 21 days notice, Labour Party gave 100 days . And someone says they are not aware.
“Electoral Act of 2022 in Article 82 (2) states “The Commission may, with or without prior notice to the political party attend and observe any convention, congress, conference or meeting which is convened by a political party for the purpose of (a) electing members of its executive committees or other governing bodies.”
In the said letter titled: ‘Notice For The Conduct of National Convention’ dated December 4th, 2023, which was signed by Julius Abure as National Chairman and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as National Secretary , the party said it was planning to hold its convention in Benin, the Edo State Capital on March 29, 2024. The letter was stamped received by the commission on the day it was written.
But, it was gathered that INEC could not monitor the national convention due to the frequent changes in venue from Benin, later to Umuahia and finally, the national convention took place in Nnewi.
The INEC source said, “the frequent changes in the venue did not help the commission keep track of the exact place the national convention will take place”.
