The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from Wednesday’s Labour Party (LP) National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, confirmed this in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Oyekanmi stated that INEC did not monitor the convention and declined to provide further details on why it was not monitored.
However, it was reported that the LP had shifted the convention from Umuahia to Nnewi on Tuesday.
Addressing the change in venue, Kehinde Edun, the LP National Legal Adviser, informed the press that the party had duly notified INEC about the change in venue and date.
“No, it is holding in Anambra. Nnewi to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun clarified.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, mandates political parties to provide INEC with at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting.
