The Labour Party in Anambra State has raised the alarm over the alleged publication of names of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as its candidates for the forthcoming local government election.
The party, at a press conference it addressed on Saturday, said it neither sold forms for the local government election, nor did it conduct any primary election to nominate candidates.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Engr Theo Egbe who addressed journalists at the state party secretariat, said the election which is scheduled for September 28,2024, is a mere sham.
He said: “They have conducted the elections in their rooms and are waiting to announce the results.”
A statement issued by the party and read by Egbe read: “Kindly take note of the previously confirmed position of Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter that the illegally packaged and lawlessly commenced obnoxious LGA Council election being midwifed by the hastily conceived and ill prepared ANSIEC by Anambra State Government is not worthy of our participation and this LP position remains irrevocably unchanged.
“It is really very worrisome, criminally egregious and outlandishly absurd that Labour Party that sued the commission, never sold nomination forms nor conducted any primary elections, and never submitted its register not to mention submission of any list of candidates to ANSIEC, was dubiously published and held out to have ‘sponsored’ candidates for the farcical Local Government Election.
“The Labour Party, Anambra State Chapter views this conduct of ANSIEC and Anambra State Government as a criminal assault on due process and a rape of the Electoral Laws of the land, as well as unwarranted provocation of the law abiding members of Labour Party at large.”
The party said the names published as its candidates are names of well known APGA stalwarts, some of who are presently transition committee chairmen of local governments.
“A careful perusal of the commission’s list of these fangled Labour Party “candidates” reveals that the names belong to known members of the defeated, Soludo faction of APGA, including the name of a current APGA Transition Chairman, (Orumba North LGA) Mr. Nwafor Chinonso Charlesmary Casmir and that of both past and current Transition Councilors of APGA extraction.
“Labour party family of Anambra State pledges to remain law abiding, even in the face of these glaring absurdities, illegalities and crass provocations and diligently commit to the legal pursuit of dismantling the sham branded Anambra L.G.A Council election via the law courts.
“Labour party still appeals to ANSIEC and the Anambra State Government to save Anambra State the enormous resources clearly billed for wastage by jettisoning this ignoble proposed LGA Council election of 28” September, 2024 and rather opt for a properly organized Anambra State Local Government Council election.
“Anambra State has absolutely nothing to lose by rescheduling this unacceptable and inglorious proposed sham called LGA Council election for a lawful and legal one to be conducted in the nearest future. Rather the state has so much to gain for it,” the party added.
