The Labour Party has said the absence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the March 27 national convention does not invalidate the election that returned its National Chairman, Julius Abure, and members of the National Working Committee to office.
The National Legal Adviser of LP, Kehinde Edun, while briefing the media at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, also noted that in the past four months, Abure has been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Labour Congress over the legitimacy of his re-election.
INEC had announced that none of its officials attended or monitored proceedings at the disputed convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
However, the LP National Legal Adviser said the INEC letter was wrongly interpreted, stressing that the presence or absence of INEC officials does not affect the legitimacy of the national convention.
According to him, “On the deliberate misinterpretation of INEC’s reply to an application by Messr. Steve Adehi, SAN & Co., this letter is very clear and unambiguous and shouldn’t have been the subject of any argument.
“However, not finding anything to hold against us, they went to import what was not contained in the letter into it. The applicant (an agent of the NLC) requested that the CTC of INEC monitor the report of the Labour Party Convention 2024 and the Constitution.
“Even though the applicant and his principal were dishonest, mischievous, dubious, and manipulative, INEC’s response was accurate and unpretentious.”
“How on earth could there be an INEC-monitored report when we have made it clear that INEC did not attend, a position also confirmed by INEC and in the public domain?
“The NLC and its cronies, including the applicant, knew INEC didn’t attend. Why then ask for the INEC report, and what is their business with it?
“In paragraph 3 of the INEC’s response, the commission expressed regret that it did not monitor the convention and could therefore not have an INEC-monitored report.
“Now, did the non-attendance of INEC invalidate the convention? The answer is a capital no, and INEC never said so. The law did not make it mandatory for INEC to attend any party’s convention.
“What the law requires is proper notice. This is provided for in Sections 82(1) to 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022. A communal reading of those provisions makes clear that we shall give at least 21 days’ notice (82)(1).
“That INEC may, with or without prior notice to us, attend and observe (this is not compulsory (82)(2)). Failure to notify INEC as stated in 82(1) shall render the convention invalid (82)(5).
“Take note that the law did not say the failure of INEC to attend shall render the convention invalid. What then is the essence of the dishonest, dubious, and misconceived hue and cry by the NLC?”
“By Section 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, it is provided that monitoring and keeping records of the activities of the political parties is not only done by INEC’s attendance at the party’s meeting but also by seeking information or clarification from the chairman and secretary.
“In the instant case, the information and clarification on the activities of the Labour Party 2024 national convention have been submitted and duly acknowledged by INEC. So the record is in INEC’s custody.”
“NLC should leave the Labour Party alone and focus on its mandate to see if they can salvage themselves or still have any relevance left.
“Their attempt at hijacking our party is illegal and unconstitutional, as clearly stipulated in Sections 221–229 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Also, sections 15(1) to 15(3) of the Trade Union Act prohibit the NLC from applying its funds towards any political objectives. So, where are they getting the money to cause all this trouble? Have they been paid by the APC, or are they flouting the law to apply the Congress funds towards political objectives?
“In Section 15(3)(a), a political objective is said to include “the making of any contribution towards the funds of any political party.”. So NLC should steer clear.”
“As for the judgement being mouthed by the NLC, the continuous agitation of the NLC over a consent judgement or agreement has become nauseating, disgusting, and detestable.”
“Are they saying our courts are powerless to enforce their own judgements? NLC should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves if they have truly had an enforceable judgement since 2018 and have been unable to reap the fruit of that judgement.”
“The truth is, there is no order against the Labour Party, so the question of disobeying a court order does not exist. The 2018 consent judgement and the 2022 terms of settlement have been complied with by us.
“If anyone is in breach, it is the NLC. As for the 2018 terms of settlement, which were adopted as consent judgement, the court, in its wisdom, said, ”It shall operate to bind parties who sign it.”
“Though LP did not sign the terms of settlement, we fully complied with them at the 2019 convention for the sake of peace. With regards to the 2022 agreement, the party fulfilled our own part of the bargain by appointing nominees of the NLC as Deputy National Chairman (Comrade Ladi iliya) and National Vice Chairman (Alh Umaru Mohammed), and also nominee of TUC, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, as Deputy National Chairman.”
“We reiterate that there has never been any injunctive or coercive order against the Labour Party. An order of court either compels you to do or refrains from doing it. If there is an order against us, we will surely obey as a law-abiding political party.”
“NLC should therefore stop deceiving themselves and their few sympathisers. The judgement of the court nullifying the election of some elected people in Zamfara and Plateau States referred to by the NLC is not relevant to this situation.
“In those cases, the political parties involved disobeyed injunctive orders and suffered the consequences. As we have said earlier, there has been no order against the Labour Party.
Finally, the CFRN did not create the Labour Party differently from other political parties, so all the crooked definitions by the NLC are unknown to law. Nobody and no association can own a political party.
“Labour Party membership is open to all Nigerians, and all the members are joint owners of the party. APC was formed in Imo House in Abuja with Rochas Okorocha as Chief Host. Can Rochas lay claim to any superior status in the APC, or can his children say we are the ones to be appointing leaders for the APC?” He queried.
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