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, clarified the commission’s stance in a conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Oyekanmi emphasized that INEC did not monitor the convention and refrained from elaborating further on the reasons behind this decision.
The Labour Party had initially scheduled the convention to take place in Umuahia, Abia State, but later shifted it to Nnewi, Anambra State, as announced on Tuesday.
Explaining the change in venue, Mr. Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, informed reporters that the party had duly notified INEC about the alteration in both venue and date.
Edun stated, “No, it is holding in Anambra. Nnewi to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia State again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi. So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time.”
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 stipulates that political parties must provide INEC with at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting, including those convened for the purpose of mergers, electing executive committees, governing bodies, or nominating candidates.
