The Labour Party has urged Anambra Government to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of local government elections
Chairman, LP Anambra chapter, Ugochukwu Emeh, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Saturday.
Emeh said that Anambra government’s template for planned Council Polls on Sept. 28 should not be at variance with the position of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of elections.
“The irregularities in the hurried Council Polls amendment Act by the State House of Assembly leaves high stake as to the considered the national electoral laws.
“I advise that proper steps be taken in order not to delay council progress further more after over 9 years without council polls in the state,” he said
Emeh said that the news conference on Friday by Mr Theo Egbe, Labour Party (LP) Publicity Secretary tallied with the party’s desire for a transparent process in the conduct of the polls.
He said that the manner in which the state government was handling arrangements for the council polls made it vulnerable to irregularities.
He said that based on the observed irregularities the party might take legal actions to challenge the Sept. 28 Local Government election.
When contacted, Egbe expressed the party’s readiness to participate in the election once the right atmosphere was provided.
“We enjoin our teeming members at the grassroots to prepare and be ready for further instructions while we work assiduously to affirm our party’s final position within the coming days,” he said.
Mr Okorie Akirika, the State Secretary of the Party said some of the areas in contention were
attempt to regulate the conduct and management of political parties, political party dispute and results collation.
“There are outstanding provisions that purported to regulate the conduct and management of political parties.
“There are also those dealing with disputes in political parties and collation of results.
We will challenge these and other unbridled illegalitird which are in direct conflicts with new National Electoral Act,” Akirika said. (NAN)
