Labour Party crisis: Youth Vanguard petitions INEC

A group, Labour Party Youth Vanguard on Monday stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)  national secretariat in Abuja.

Led by their coordinator, Abdullahi Ahmed, they accused the electoral body of the festering crisis in the party.

The party has been polarized into factions, following the emergence of Dr Mike Omotosho, who upstaged Alhaji Abdul Salam, as the national chairman. Dr  Omotosho emerged as the new chairman at a convention
held last October.

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The group in a petition accused the Commission of taking side with the displaced Alhaji Abdul Salam as it claimed that INEC continues to parade him on its website as Labour party chairman in spite of the pronouncement of its highest organ, the national convention.

The petition, ‘’Recognition of Mike Omotosho as National Chairman of Labour Party,’’ dated February 5, 2017, and addressed  to INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu read in part:

’’The Special convention was held on the 3rd of October, 2017. Three members of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored, the police was present, the media and other stakeholders were present and all the laid down rules in our constitution were followed to the letter. The former chairman, Alhaji A.A. Salam was removed from
office.’’

‘’A new national chairman, Dr Mike Omotosho emerged at the convention. As already noted the special convention was monitored by INEC but we are aware of the efforts made by Alhaji Salaam to compromise some principal officers in INEC in order to delay the recognition processes of Dr Mike Omotosho as chairman.

‘’However, it is the responsibility and within the purview of political parties to determine the officers of the party and
communicate same to INEC for an effective working relationship and this has been done since 4th October making it 121 days.

’’Meanwhile, the National Working Committee has gotten a court injunction restraining the former chairman from access to the national secretariat.

‘’In conclusion, we urge you to use your good offices to prevail on relevant officers within INEC to remove the former chairman’s name from the INEC website and replace with Dr Omotosho, the new chairman.’’