Labour Party Backs Anambra LG Election Boycott, Endorses Emeh Leadership

By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka

The Senator Nenadi Usman-led National newly inaugurated 29-member Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party has thrown its weight behind the Chief Ugochukwu Emeh and Barrister C.J. Okoli-Akirika-led Anambra State executive, endorsing their position to boycott Saturday’s Local Government election in the State.

The Labour Party State chapter had opted to boycott the election, saying that “the process violates the Electoral Act.”

The National leadership specfically said that it “is on the same page with the Anambra State chapter on the proposed local Government election.”

Abstain from participating

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Usman-led committee fully endorsed the position taken by the Anambra LP executives, led by Chairman Chief Ugochukwu Emeh, advocating for members to abstain from participating in the local government elections.

The statement read, “The National Leadership of the Labour Party is aware of and entirely supports the position of the Labour Party in Anambra State, led by Chief Ugochukwu Emeh (Chairman) and Okoli Akirika (Secretary), along with other stakeholders, regarding the non-participation in the upcoming Anambra State Local Government Election scheduled for 28/9/2024 due to violations of the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution.

“We also acknowledge that the Labour Party has initiated legal action in Suit No A/265/2024: Labour Party vs. Anambra State House of Assembly, as well as in Suit No FHC/CV/AWK/223/2024: Labour Party vs. ANSIEC & 14 others, challenging the procedures surrounding the proposed LGA election, and confirm that no candidates have been nominated for this election by the party.

“The National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party hereby confirms that we have not established any caretaker committee in any state of the federation, and that our party in Anambra State is currently being led by Chief Ugochukwu Emeh and Okoli Akirika. This clarification is provided for official and record purposes.”

Last week, Labour Party spokesperson in Anambra, Theo Egbe, announced plans for a boycott of the local government elections scheduled for September 28 in Awka, the state capital. Egbe’s announcement was based on concerns regarding a disputed list of qualified Labour Party candidates published by ANSIEC, which he asserted had not been submitted by the party.

Lateefah Ibrahim