In a recent statement, the Labour Party expressed disappointment in some members of its National Working Committee, accusing them of siding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) instead of supporting the party during challenging times. The party’s National Publicity Secretary highlighted the betrayal felt by the party leadership, particularly towards former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti.
The party lamented how these leaders, who were once supported and defended by the Labour Party, are now aligning themselves with INEC, which the party sees as a betrayal of trust. The controversy arose following legal actions taken by the party against INEC in response to the installation of a new Caretaker Committee led by Nenadi Usman.
The Labour Party accused INEC of taking sides and attempting to undermine the party’s leadership by supporting the newly appointed committee. The party vowed to challenge what they termed as an “illegal arrangement,” emphasizing that the selection of committee members was undemocratic.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary criticized the leaders aligning with INEC, reminding them of the commission’s actions during the 2023 general elections, which were seen as undermining the electoral will of the people. The party warned against trusting INEC, citing past grievances and urging leaders not to forget the lessons learned from previous electoral processes.
Overall, the Labour Party stressed the importance of standing firm against INEC’s alleged interference and maintaining loyalty to the party’s values and principles, especially in the face of external pressures and challenges.