The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from Wednesday’s Labour Party (LP) National Convention held in Anambra State.
Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, made this assertion during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Oyekanmi clarified that INEC did not oversee the conduct of the convention, refraining from providing further details regarding why it was not monitored.
However, NAN reported that the LP had relocated the convention from Umuahia in Abia State to Nnewi, Anambra State, on Tuesday.
Addressing the change in venue, Mr. Kehinde Edun, the LP National Legal Adviser, informed journalists that the party had duly notified INEC about the alteration in venue and date.
“No, it is taking place in Anambra. To be precise, Nnewi, not Umuahia in Abia State anymore. In fact, Umuahia was not our initial venue choice. We initially selected Benin before switching to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“Hence, we are entitled to select any venue we prefer. All we need to do is inform INEC about the change in venue and time,” Edun explained.
According to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, political parties are required to provide INEC with at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting. This notification also encompasses conventions or meetings convened for purposes such as merger discussions and the election of executive committee members, other governing bodies, or nomination of candidates.