Anambra LG Polls: LP Disowns Candidates On Electoral Commission’s List

By Chukwuka Ugokwe, Awka

Ahead of Saturday’s Local Government Elections in Anambra State, the Labour Party, LP has made it clear that it is not fielding any candidate for the elections, describing those flying the party’s flag in the exercise as impostors.

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC had in its publication, listed some persons as candidates of the Labour Party in the election.

The supposed candidates in the ANSIEC list are featured to participate in eight local governments out of the 21 LGAs in the state.

During a briefing in Awka, the LP State Chairman, Ugochukwu Emeh said no executive of the party as authorised by the law signed the nomination forms for the candidates parading themselves as Labour Party members.

Making it clear that the party was not participating in the election, Emeh urged the ANSIEC to leave out the party in its exercise as it had made its position clear from the onset.

He said the party was in court challenging the process that led to the election, that the persons who are parading themselves as Labour Party candidates in the election, would meet the party in court.

“ We made it clear that we are not participating earlier. Let them conduct their election and meet us in court,” he said.

The publicity secretary of Labour Party in the state, Theo Egbe said Labour Party does not have factions in the state, explaining why they are not contesting the election.

“Our reason is that the election does not follow due process. The entire process is based on illegality and obnoxious laws passed by the State House of Assembly under the pressure of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who sent the bill. 

“The laws as we see them, are illegal and does not in any way, reflect anything that will guide due process. The abridgement of time is too short for any party, even APGA itself, to prepare for the election,” he said.

He also disowned a viral video by two individuals claiming to be contesting on the platform of the Labour Party, describing them as transactional political mercenary, hired to create the impression that the LP is contesting the election.

The Anambra LP spokesperson called on the members of the party to disregard what he described as  antics and refrain from participating in the exercise.

He said that Labour Party as a grassroots-oriented party, was insisting that the right things should be done to entrench democracy at the local government level in the state.

Confidence Okwuchi