BY Mimi Chiadikobi
The Labour Party (LP) has dragged the Anambra state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra state capital over the publication of list of candidates purporting to be the party’s candidates for Saturday, September 28 council elections in the state.
Other defendants in the suit marked FHC/ AWK/223/2024 include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector-general of police (IGP), Director -general of the State Security Services and 14 persons listed as LP chairmanship and Councillorship candidates in the council elections.
Chief Theo Egbe, Publicity secretary of the LP in Anambra disclosed the party’s legal action during a news-briefing in Awka on Friday.
He stated that the party had already announced its withdrawal from the council polls, and, described those listed as candidates of the party in the election as “fake”
Egbe stated that out of the 21 local governments of the state, ANSIEC published list of candidates purporting to be LP candidates in about eight local governments.
He listed the local governments to include Idemili-North, Orumba-North, Nnewi- North, Aguata, Awka-North, Oyi and Anambra East.
Egbe said that candidates were foisted on Lp through faceless and unpatriotic persons to act as LP members.
He stated that LP boycotted the council elections because the amendments on the state House of Assembly Act establishing the ANSIEC, provisions in the act concerning the conduct of the council polls, as well as guidelines issued by ANSIEC were copiously manipulated against opposition parties.
He described those listed as candidates of the LP as mostly serving transition committee members of the respective local government areas who are card-carrying APGA members.
The LP state spokesperson stated that there was no division within the party in the state to warrant division in the party that may lead to counter stand.
He said that even the Neneadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee of LP has also endorsed the party’s withdrawal from the council polls.
He also noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People Democratic Party (PDP) have also announced their withdrawal from the council polls describing the amended act of the state assembly establishing the state independent electoral commission as illegal .
He said that the act has several provisions in the acts that are in conflict with the provisions of the act of National Assembly on INEC as such LP cannot be part of the illegal process.
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Mr Ugochukwu Emeh, LP State chairman said that he never sent any names to ANSIEC and expressed worry over the actions of ANSIEC.
Emeh said that the party is in court to challenge the ignoble act of the sitting government by his refusal to carry all political parties along in the council election process.
He said that there was no sell of form,screening process or primary elections and condemned the political rascality of the ruling party.
Mr Humphrey Ilo the Deputy Chairman of the state party described the action as political desperation that certainly will pull down democratic governance.
Swift response by Dr. Alex Obi-Ogbolu, Senior Special Adviser on political Matters to Gov. Charles Soludo said that the claims of the LP is unfounded.
He urged the electorate to ignore distractions from Lp and focused on active participation on during the polls.
Obi-Ogbolu, said that adequate plans have been made for safety of lives of the electorate and urged eligible voters to actively participate in the election process.
Chief Anthony Nnalue, the ANSIEC publicity secretary in the state has confirmed that the commission had already concluded arrangements for a free, fair and transparent conduct of the council polls.
Nnalue urged the residents of the state to go about their activities to ensure that democratic governance is achieved since the state have been without such over ten years.
Mr Casmir Nwafor,whom Lp alleged was a fake candidate under their Lp said his name was wrongly fixed under Lp for the election by ANSIEC.
Nwafor said that he is contesting the chairmanship seat of Orumba North under his party APGA not LP.
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