-
Protesters accuse INEC of bias and disobedience to court orders
-
Labour Party faction disowns demonstration, labels organisers “impostors”
-
Tensions rise ahead of nationwide bye-elections
Scores of protesters stormed the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, accusing the electoral body of sidelining the Labour Party (LP) from the forthcoming nationwide bye-elections.
Carrying banners and placards bearing inscriptions such as “INEC, who is using you against LP?” and “Mahmood, stop destroying democracy in Nigeria”, the demonstrators arrived at the INEC premises by 11:00 a.m., demanding the reinstatement of Labour Party candidates into the electoral process.
The protest was reportedly led by a faction loyal to Comrade Julius Abure, the suspended national chairman of the Labour Party.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
The group alleged that INEC had refused to recognise valid court orders affirming their candidates’ participation.
READ ALSO: Court Dismisses INEC’s Bid to Void Judgment on 2023 Electoral Offences – SERAP Reacts
However, the protest has sparked confusion within the party. In a swift rebuttal, the Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ken Asogwa, dissociated the Labour Party from the protest, describing the organisers as “political impersonators”.
“The Labour Party did not organise any protest at INEC headquarters. Those behind it are impostors exploiting the party’s name,” Asogwa said in a press statement.
