LP Petitions Police, DSS Over Alleged Illegal Sale of Nomination Forms by Abure

The Labour Party has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services over the alleged illegal sale and distribution of nomination forms by the party’s former National Chairman, Julius Abure.

The allegation was made by the party’s current National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the screening exercise for aspirants participating in the party’s primaries on Thursday in Abuja.

Usman disclosed that copies of the petitions sent to the police and the DSS had also been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission for its attention and necessary action.

She described the circulation of the forms as unlawful and misleading, insisting that the leadership that emerged from the Labour Party’s national convention held in Umuahia remains the only recognised leadership of the party.

According to her, the convention was conducted after the court ruled that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired.

“We received the news surprisingly. It was a big surprise because after the court said his tenure was over, we went to Umuahia, held a national convention and elected new leaders,” she said.

Usman explained that officials of INEC monitored the convention and recognised the outcome, adding that the names of the party’s current executives as displayed on the commission’s website were those elected during the Umuahia convention.

“INEC was there and recognised what we did. The names on INEC’s website are those voted for in Umuahia, and then he comes and starts distributing forms,” she stated.

When asked whether the party had been served with any notice regarding Abure’s reported appeal to the Supreme Court, Usman said the Labour Party had not received any official court documents on the matter.

She expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold its earlier decision concerning the party’s leadership dispute.

“My take is that the Supreme Court will maintain its stand. If a court says my tenure is over tomorrow, I cannot go back to say it is not over,” she added.

Usman further alleged that some aspirants had already been deceived into purchasing unauthorised nomination forms.

“One man came here to tell me his wife was contesting, and when I looked at the form, it was not the form we issued. They are deceiving people, and it is not right at all,” she said.