The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from the Labour Party’s national convention held in Anambra on Wednesday. Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, made this declaration in Abuja on Thursday. Oyekanmi clarified that INEC did not monitor the conduct of the convention and refrained from elaborating further on the reasons behind this decision.
The Labour Party had initially scheduled the national convention to take place in Umuahia, Abia State, but later shifted it to Nnewi, Anambra State. Mr. Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Adviser of the LP, informed the press that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date. He emphasized the party’s prerogative to select any venue of its choice, stating that they only needed to inform INEC about the alteration in venue and timing.
According to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, political parties are mandated to provide INEC with at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting. This notice requirement encompasses conventions or meetings convened for purposes such as mergers, the election of executive committees and other governing bodies, or the nomination of candidates.
