October 20, 2023 NewsOrient.
Post: Samuel Egburonu, Editor

The leadership of Labour Party has condemned the confusion created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday’s proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which led to adjournment of the appeal in the case between Labour Party candidate, Hon. Amobi Ogah, who is the plaintiff and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, for Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency seat.

The party said “the change of legal guard without properly notifying the interested parties was carefully orchestrated by the Commission in alliance with our opponents with the intention to stall proceedings at the Court of Appeal and frustrate our candidate’s appeal that was due for hearing on Thursday.”

Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary, of Labour Party, in a statement, entitled, “Open Letter To INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu By The Leadership Of Labour Party On The Show Of Infamy And Dishonour By The Commission In Election Appeal Holden In Lagos,” said:

“Mr. Chairman sir, it is no longer news that the Labour Party achieved appreciable and unprecedented success in the last general election. Winning as much as 35 seats in the House of Representatives, 8 seats in the Senate and numerous seats in the state Houses of Assembly. We also won a governorship seat and with over 6 millions voters standing behind our presidential candidate. We sincerely recognize and understand the efforts of INEC in the epoch-making events.

However, these feats have been seriously threatened by the recent developments and outcome from the various tribunals. Some of these victories by the Labour Party were overturned albeit unconstitutionally. The party had sometimes in September lamented the sledge hammer policy against the Labour Party and its members, and had appealed that the judiciary should be partners in sustaining the fledging democracy by always ensuring that it stands on the altar of justice.

Mr. Chairman sir, we therefore bring to your notice an ugly incident that happened yesterday, 19th day of October, 2023 at Lagos State, venue of the Appeal Court on the Appeal No. CA/OW/HR/AB/06/2023 between the Labour Party candidate, Hon. Amobi Ogah, who is the plaintiff and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who is the Respondent. INEC is also a Respondent in that matter.

Hon. Ogah of the Labour Party contested and won with a large margin the Federal House of Representatives seat for Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, but his victory was annulled at the Election Tribunal, hence the resolve to approach the Appellate Court.

Sir, what played out yesterday, 19th day of October, 2023, was unbelievable, hence we call on you to nip the development in the bud to avoid a messy situation. INEC had engaged a Senior Counsel, J.O. Asoluka (SAN), as its lawyers with a letter of authorisation to represent the commission.

But at the commencement of the hearing at the Appeal Court, another lawyer surfaced with another letter of authority to take over the case of the self same INEC without prior notice to J.O Asoluka (SAN), that the new counsel had been engaged. They also did not see any need to inform the Plaintiff of the development as required by law. When the matter thus came up, a squabble ensued between the two counsels as to who had the authority of INEC to represent it in the case.

Conspicously present at the venue of the Appeal Court were some expelled members of Labour Party under the headship of Lamidi Apapa. Also present were some leaders of the APC who openly fraternize with the Apapa cohorts and who were openly boasting that they will purchase judgement at all cost. They also attempted unsuccessfully to hijack the legal representation of the Labour Party.

Chairman sir, it has now dawned on us that the change of legal guard without properly notifying the interested parties was carefully orchestrated by the Commission in alliance with our opponents with the intention to stall proceedings at the Court of Appeal and frustrate our candidate’s appeal that was due for hearing on Thursday.

We are raising this alarm because time is of essence, even though, the collaborators achieved their intentions as the appeal could not be heard and was adjourned by the court to enable INEC put its house in order and determine who of the two counsels, has her authority to represent her in the appeal.

We are therefore using this platform to urge you to investigate the inglorious roles which the legal department of the commission is playing and sanction erring officials. The role of INEC in this matter is simply to defend the outcome of the election which it conducted and on which it declared Hon. Amobi Ogah as the duly-elected candidate to represent Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

The Commission must reject any semblance of compromise. Nigerians are still looking up to it to redeem its image, aftermath of the controversial 2023 general elections. It must not allow a few pliable members of the Commission to further taint the integrity of the commission.

NewsOrient