NIGERIA: Labour Party alleges INEC’s conspiracy in plot to sabotage appeal case

The leadership of the Labour Party has called out Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged scheme to frustrate an appeal case involving one of its candidates.

In an open letter to the INEC chairman dated Friday, October 20, the party's national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, decried the antics played out in an appeal at the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal the previous day.

The case in question involved Hon. Amobi Ogah of Labour Party, who had approached the appellate court to challenge the nullification of his election victory for Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency by the election petition tribunal.

According to the statement, "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."

It further alleged that "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."

The party is demanding an investigation into "the inglorious roles which the legal department of the commission is playing."

Mr. Ifoh stressed: "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."