The Anambra State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has rejected the nomination of certain members and current Local Government Transition members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as Labour Party candidates for the upcoming Local Government election.
The party has reaffirmed its stance of non-participation in the election, scheduled for September 28, 2024, calling it a “sham” and “obnoxious.”
The party, in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Theo Egbe, on Saturday accused the Anambra State Government and the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) of orchestrating a fraudulent election process.
Stating that the local government election has been marred by “illegally packaged” candidates, many of whom are affiliated with the Charles Soludo faction of APGA, the ruling party in Anambra State, the LP Anambra chapter claimed that the recent publication of these so-called Labour Party candidates by ANSIEC is misleading and reflects a larger issue of compromised governance.
Specifically, the party highlighted that key figures in the ANSIEC list, including the current Transition Chairman for Orumba North LGA, Nwafor Chinonso, are APGA stalwarts and should not be associated with the Labour Party.
The party also disclosed that it has initiated legal proceedings against the Anambra State Government and ANSIEC.
Their court case, A/265/2024: Labour Party vs. Anambra State House of Assembly & Others, challenges the legitimacy of the election. The suit, already served, is still pending in court.
Part of the statement read: “This our unchanging position that LP is not participating in the charade has officially been conveyed to ANSIEC, and the entire Anambrarians were unmistakably and unequivocally put on the same notice too.
“Our suit with NoA/265/2024 has been duly served on the commission and is still pending in Court.
“Our official letter to ANSIEC is copied to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Director of DSS, and other relevant bodies, dated 9th September 2024; Labour Party remained unequivocal about our total lack of faith, trust, and confidence in both ANSIEC and the shabby illegal process they adopted, for being at complete variance with due process and the Electoral Act, 2022.
“It is very worrisome, criminally egregious and outlandishly absurd that Labour Party that sued the commission never sold nomination forms nor conducted any primary elections, and never submitted its register not to mention submission of any list of candidates to ANSIEC, was dubiously published and held out to have ‘sponsored’ candidates for the farcical Local Government Election.
“A careful perusal of the commission’s list of these fangled LabourParty “candidates” reveals that the names belong to known members of the defeated Soludo faction of APGA, including the name of a current APGA Transition Chairman,(Orumba North LGA) Mr.Nwafor Chinonso, CharlesMary Casimir and that of both past and current Transition Councilors of APGA extraction.”
The LP further accused ANSIEC of violating the Electoral Act of 2022, highlighting that the commission neither sold nomination forms nor conducted any primary elections to select legitimate Labour Party candidates.
The party stressed that this irregular process undermines the principles of due process and electoral fairness.
In the press release, the Labour Party described the actions of ANSIEC and the Anambra State Government as a “criminal assault” on the electoral process and an affront to the law-abiding citizens of the state.
The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as a criminal assault on due process and a rape of the Electoral Laws of the land, as well as unwarranted provocation of the law-abiding members of the Labour Party at large.
The party further condemned the Anambra government for engaging in what it termed a “farce,” accusing them of “sponsoring” the nomination of individuals who do not belong to the Labour Party.
“The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as a criminal assault on due process and a rape of the Electoral Laws of the land,” the statement stated.
Despite the harsh criticism, the Labour Party still extended an olive branch to the state government, urging it to postpone the September 28 election and save Anambra from what they describe as a costly sham.
The party argued that rescheduling the election would provide an opportunity for a legitimate, well-organized process that adheres to electoral laws, where all political parties can meaningfully participate.
“Anambra state has absolutely nothing to lose by rescheduling this unacceptable and inglorious proposed sham called LGA Council election,” the Labour Party stated, adding that rescheduling would allow for a proper and lawful election in the future.
The LP, however, pledged to remain law-abiding and diligent in its fight against what it views as the unlawful election process.