Temisan Olaifa
The Labour Party (LP) has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for excluding candidates sponsored by the Julius Abure-led faction from the Aug. 16 by-elections in Anambra.
The Abure-led faction was removed by the Supreme Court on April 4, which recognised Sen. Nenadi Usman as the party’s authentic National Chairman.
The Anambra Chairman of the party, Mr Peter Okoye, commended INEC during a press conference on Thursday in Awka.
“We commend INEC’s decision. The commission has shown respect for the rule of law,” he said.
He warned that any individual or group still conducting party business with Abure and his allies does so at the risk of sanctions.
The Chairman urged voters to turn out en masse on Saturday and support only candidates with impeccable and credible character.
He clarified that the LP in the state has no candidate in the forthcoming by-elections and no alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to him, the party is law-abiding and will always operate within the confines of the law.
He passed a vote of confidence on the LP under Usman’s leadership.
INEC will conduct by-elections in Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 Constituency.
The polls will replace the late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah and the late Mr Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped on Christmas Eve and later found dead.
