The Labour Party (LP) in Anambra State said on Saturday that it was miffed by the processes still going on, ahead of the September 28 local government election in the state, which it described as a sham and a waste of resources.
Recall that the party had earlier distanced itself from the exercise, berating the amendment of the State Electoral Law by the State House of Assembly and the conduct of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) as an assault on due process and rape of the electoral system.
Speaking during a press conference on Saturday in Awka, The LP State Publicity Secretary, Engr Theo Egbe advised the government to save the State the enormous resources billed for wastage by jettisoning the election.
He said the government should rather opt for a properly organized council election by a well-prepared, ready and properly equipped electoral umpire.
The party also raised the alarm over the publication of the names of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as its candidates for the election.
It said it neither sold forms for the election nor did it conduct any primary elections to nominate candidates.
“The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter, firmly reiterates its position that the illegal and chaotic council election, rushed by ANSIEC under the Anambra State Government, is unworthy of participation, and the party’s stance remains unchanged,” the party said.
The party it has officially conveyed its position that it is not participating in the election to ANSIEC, and have clearly informed the people of Anambra as well.
It also said its lawsuit, No. A/265/2024: Labour Party vs. Anambra State House of Assembly & ANSIEC, has been served to the commission and is still pending in court.
The Anambra LP said it is deeply troubling, absurd, and outrageous, that despite its firm position, it was still dubiously published and falsely represented as having sponsored’ candidates for the farcical Local Government election.
It further said a careful perusal of the commission’s list of the Labour Party candidates for the exercise reveals that the names belong to known members of the Chukwuma Soludo faction of APGA, including the name of an APGA Transition Committee Chairman, (Orumba North LGA) and that of both past and current Transition Committee Councilors of APGA extraction.
It said; “The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as an 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 Labour Party at large.
“The Labour Party family of Anambra State pledges to remain law-abiding, even in the face of these glaring absurdities, illegalities and crass provocations and diligently commit to the legal pursuit of dismantling the sham branded Anambra L.G.A election via the law courts.
“And in good conscience, the Labour Party still appeals to ANSIEC and the Anambra State Government to save Anambra State the enormous resources clearly billed for wastage by jettisoning this ignoble proposed LGA election of September 28, 2024 and rather opt for a properly organized Anambra State Local Government election by a well prepared, ready and properly equip ANSIEC, that will be based on the rule of law and due process, in which all political parties and voters alike shall meaningfully and procedurally participate.”
Also speaking, the State Secretary of the Party, Barr Okoli Akirika said: “During the 2023 election we heard of unknown Bishops. We have also heard of unknown gunmen, and today through ANSIEC, we hear of unknown candidates.
“For clarity, the individuals listed as Labour Party candidates are not our members. We did not sponsor them and had already informed everyone that we are not participating in this election.”
