As the conduct of local government elections draws nearer in Osun state, two factional groups in the Labour Party (LP) are at loggerheads over which faction should be recognised by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
The factions have both fielded candidates for the forthcoming elections at the OSSIEC office.
In a letter addressed to OSSIEC Chairman, Ashim Abioye dated 30th of August, 2024, which was signed by the chairman, Mrs. Oluwayemi Susan Ojo, the State Chairman and secretary, Mr. Odesanya Kole Raphael said, OSSIEC should refrain from having any business with the Bello Adebayo-led faction.
According to the letter, any list of candidates emanated from Adebayo remains a nullity in the eye of the law, following the judgement of a judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court delivered on March 20, 2018, by Honourable Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
“In respect to the Osun Local Government Elections coming up 22nd February, 2025. We the leadership of the Labour Party in Osun state are calling the attention of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) that the commission should refrain itself from having any business whatsoever to do with one Bello Adebayo and his counterfeited State Working Committee (SWC). Particularly in respect to the Labour Party Local Government Primary Elections across the 30 local government Areas and Modakeke Area Council in the state.
“OSSIEC should note that whatever list of candidates that emanated from him remains a nullity in the eye of the law. Reference to an irrevocable court judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court delivered on March 20, 2018, by Honourable Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
“It is on record that Bello Adebayo has been suspended by his ward, ward 12 Executives in Osogbo Local Government Area. Also in line with the Constitution of Labour Party the National Working Committee of the party ratified his suspension by virtue of Article 19 of the Constitution of Labour Party 2019 (as amended).
“On May 3rd 2023, Abure-led National Executive Council (NEC) was suspended which Bello Adebayo was part of the NEC meeting held in Asaba Delta State. OSSIEC should note that any Primary Elections or list of candidates from Bello Adebayo is also a violation of the Nigerian Electoral Act, the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Constitution which ultimately regulates the affairs of political parties.
“Also, we are calling on OSSIEC that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Labour Party leader Mr. Peter Obi, the elected Labour Party members of States/National Assemblies and other informed law abiding stakeholders of our party nationwide boycotted, did not recognize and have since consistently dissociated themselves from the fraudulent Nnewi convention based on which Julius Abure and his cohorts claim authority to act as National Executive (NEC) Council and National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party to conduct congresses.
“INEC made their positions clear beyond doubt on the illegitimacy of Abure’s unlawfully concocted Nnewi convention of March 27, 2024, INEC through the Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Oyekami. Meanwhile, Bello Adebayo was part of the Nnewi Convention and he has been placing reliance on Abure leadership as legal.
“The public is also aware of Mr Peter Obi himself reiterating through his spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, and other stakeholders publicly dissociated themselves in both formal print and electronic media from the Nnewi gathering.
“Furthermore, in crisp violation of INEC guidelines for the conduct of congresses by political parties and contrary to the false information being dished out to the public and uninformed Labour Party members, we have on good authority that just like their Nnewi convention charade, INEC did not approve the so-called congresses of Abure. Thus, OSSIEC should not recognize any electoral activity emanated from Bello Adebayo.
“Recently, Julius Abure, was barred from participating in the Quarterly Consultative meeting between INEC and leaders of political parties. We respectfully call on the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSSIEC not to consider Bello Adebayo as the Labour Party Chairman in the state for he is no longer a member of Labour Party. As we speak at the moment, the only legally recognized State Chairman of Labour Party in Osun state is Mrs. Susan Ojo. That any other person claiming to be in that capacity is doing that on his own.
“We do not want a repeat of what happened in November of 2023, where the Court of Appeal in Abuja annulled and sacked all 16 members of the PDP-controlled House of Assembly in Plateau state eight months after their successful election and swearing-in, and handed their victory to their APC opponents because the PDP party structure that nominated them for election was illegal, just as Abure’s Nnewi illegal NWC of the Labour Party.
“It is the well-meaning desire of the stakeholders of the party that labour party is not a weak match transactional political party. And we do not want any member of Labour Party to suffer the double hazards of loss of resources and irrecoverable opportunity by wasting their energies and hard-earned money on Bello Adebayo and his charade of local government primary elections.
“Irreversibly, we are committed to, within the shortest feasible time, being able to guide the party to conduct transparent, democratic local government primary elections in Osun culminating in a credible, expansive and all-inclusive.”
Reacting, Adebayo Bello said he still remain the authentic Chairman of the Labour Party in the state, saying he was elected at the congress held by the party and his tenure has not ended.
He said he has already submitted the list of the party candidates and if anybody has any issues against it, he or she should approach the court.
“I’m still the authentic Chairman of the Labour Party because my tenure has not ended. I have submitted the list of party candidates to the OSSIEC and if anybody has any issues , he or should should go to court. OSSIEC has no anything to do with party, if there is any issue it’s INEC that will write OSSIEC.”
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