The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Ayo Olorunfemi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of instigating a crisis in the party in the wake of its leadership tussle.
Olorunfemi said this during a Channels Television’s breakfast programme, ‘The Morning Brief’ on Thursday.
He said it was not the duty of INEC to conduct elections for political parties if the tenure of their National Working Committee, NWC, expires.
According to him, the electoral umpire ignored the Labour Party when the party sent a letter inviting them to its national convention.
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 coming 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.
“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 on the show.
“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.”
“We are in court, we had to go to court when we were hearing this rumour and when we weren’t allowed to participate,” he said.