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LABOUR PARTY
NLC’S MALICIOUS PROPAGANDA AND DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD AGAINST LABOUR PARTY AS AN EXTERNAL AGGRESSION AND HATCHET JOB.
Our Party is being assailed on all sides by paid agents, chiefly the NLC and its cronies. The job for which the NLC have been paid is to create a semblance of division and crisis in our Party. But despite their evil agenda, our party remain strong, virile and stable. The leadership of the NLC and the dubious committees and commissions they have created are not members of our party. They are external aggressors paid by rival political parties to embark on a campaign of calumny and ferocious attacks against our party’s Leaders. The leadership of the NLC know that they are not registered members of our party and therefore have no stake in the party. Their claim to any stake in the party is false, mischievous and lacking any merit whatsoever. But they continue to deceive gullible people and are therefore willing tools in the hands of dubious politician and some of our elected members who want to simulate or create the appearance of a crisis to justify defection.
We are however emboldened as we are convinced of the solemnity and sureness of the triumph of good over evil.
We should now respond to some of their fabrications
- On the deliberate misinterpretation of INEC’s reply to an application by Mr. Steve Adehi, SAN & Co.
This letter is very clear and unambiguous and shouldn’t have been the subject of any argument. However not finding anything to hold unto against us, they went to import what is not contained in the letter into it. The applicant (an agent of the NLC) requested for CTC of INEC monitored report of Labour party convention, 2024 and the Labour party constitution. Even though the applicant and his principal were dishonest, mischievous, dubious and manipulative, INEC’S response was accurate and unpretentious. How on earth could there be an INEC monitored report when we have made it clear that INEC did not attend which position was also confirmed by INEC and is in the public domain. NLC and its cronies including the applicant knew INEC didn’t attend, why then ask for INEC report and what is their business with it?
In paragraph 3 of the INEC’s reply, the commission expressed regret that it did not monitor the convention and could therefore not have an INEC monitored report.
Now, did the non attendance of INEC invalidates the convention? The answer is capital NO and INEC never said so.
The law did not make it mandatory for INEC to attend any Party’s convention. INEC knew they were at liberty to come or not. What the law requires is proper Notice. This is provided for in Section 82(1) to 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022. A communal reading of those provisions makes clear that we shall give at least 21 days’ notice (82)(1). That INEC may, with or without prior notice to us attend and observe (this is not compulsory (82)(2). That failure to notify INEC as stated in 82(1) shall render the convention invalid (82)(5).
Take note that the law did not say failure of INEC to attend shall render the convention invalid. What then is the essence of the dishonest, dubious and misconceived hue and cry by the NLC.
By section 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, it is provided that monitoring and keeping records of activities of the political parties is not only by INEC attendance at party’s meeting but also by seeking information or clarification from the chairman and secretary. In the instant case, the information and clarification on the activities of the Labour Party 2024 national convention have been submitted and duly acknowledged by INEC. So, the record is in INEC’s custody.
NLC should leave Labour Party alone and focus on its mandate to see if they can salvage themselves or still have any relevance left.
Their attempt at hijacking our party is illegal and unconstitutional as clearly stipulated in section 221 to 229 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also, section 15(1) to 15(3) of the Trade Union Act prohibits the NLC from applying its funds towards any political objectives. So where are they getting the money to cause all this trouble, are they been paid by APC or are they flouting the law to apply the congress funds towards political objective. In section 15(3)(a) political objective is said to include “the making of any contribution towards the funds of any political party”. So NLC should steer clear.
As for the judgment being mouthed by the NLC, the continuous agitation of NLC over a consent judgment or agreement has become nauseating, disgusting and detestable.
Are they saying our courts are powerless to enforce their own judgments? NLC should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves if truly they have an enforceable judgment since 2018 and have been unable to reap the fruit of that judgment.
The truth is, there is no order against the Labour Party, so the question of disobeying a court order does not exist. The 2018 consent judgment and the 2022 terms of settlement have been complied with by us. If anyone is in breach, it is the NLC. As for the 2018 terms of settlement which was adopted as consent judgment, the court in its wisdom said”. It shall operate to bind parties who signed it”. Though LP did not sign the terms of settlement, we fully complied with it at the 2019 convention for the sake of Peace. With regards to the 2022 agreement, the party fulfilled our own part of the bargain by appointing nominees of the NLC as Deputy National Chairman (Comrade Ladi Iliya) and National Vice Chairman (Alh Umaru Mohammed) and also nominee of TUC, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi as Deputy National Chairman.
We reiterate that there has never been any injunctive or coercive order against the Labour party. An order of Court either compels you to do or refrain from doing a thing. If there is an order against us, we will surely obey as a law-abiding political party. NLC should therefore stop deceiving themselves and their few sympathizers. The judgment of the court nullifying the election of some elected people in Zamfara and Plateau States referred to by NLC are not relevant to this situation. In those cases, the political parties involved disobeyed injunctive orders and suffered the consequences. As we have said earlier there has been no order against the Labour Party.
Finally, the CFRN did not create Labour Party differently from other political parties, so all the crooked definitions by the NLC are unknown to law. Nobody and no association can own a political party. Labour Party membership is open to all Nigerians and all the members are joint owners of the party. APC was formed in Imo House in Abuja with Rochas Okorocha as Chief Host. Can Rochas lay claim to any superior status in APC or his children say we are the one to be appointing leaders for the APC?
Thank you and God bless.
Signed By,
Barr. Kehinde Edum
(LP Legal Adviser)
