Labour Party Reacts As INEC Removes Party Logo On Ballot Paper
Labour Party has expressed its displeasure over the omission of its party logo by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives election is less than 24 hours.
Addressing the news men at a press conference which took place at NUJ press center, Adegbemile today, the State Secretary of Labour party, Mr Agbaje Abiodun stated that the omission of the Labour Party logo in the ballot paper sent to Ondo State for Senate and House of Representative election was a deliberate act to disenfranchise the party’s supporters.
He added that “the deliberate act by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is aimed at disenfranchising us”.
“On 2™ of February 2023, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept the nomination of candidates of the Labour Party in 24 States”.
“The court further ordered that the commission must accept the list of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates particularly in Ondo State, either manually or through its electronic nomination portal”.
“Why the flagrant disobedience to court order? Unequivocally, this distasteful act which was purposely carried out and became the cynosure of all eyes yesterday ‘was targeted at states with die-hard fans of our great party”.
“Sadly, if an umpire could commit such an embarrassing gaffe, it is a testament to the calls by concerned Nigerians over INEC’s honesty in the February 25 general election”.
“We hereby urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the upper and lower chamber election until the needful is done”.
“Furthermore, we remain undeterred as we urge our esteemed supporters to remain focused and stay away from unnecessary distraction, as we shall lawfully pursue the course until victory is ascertained”.
Agbaje noted that if INEC refuse to do the needful and Labour Party is unable to participate in the election tomorrow, the party would seek redress in court.
He stressed that their candidates were affected in Ondo East/West; Okitipupa/Irele; Ilaje/Ese Odo; Akure South/North; Akoko South West/South East; Akoko North East/West and Ondo East/West federal Constituencies as well as Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Akoko South West/South East House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Stephen Adeyeri while expressing his displeasure, urged INEC to do the needful and give the party and its supporters the opportunity to participate in the election as it is their civil right.
