“Any Attempt To Rig Ebonyi LG Elections For APC Will Be Resisted” – Labour Party
The Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi says it will resist any alleged attempt by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) to rig the forthcoming Local Government elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party made this known at a press conference held at its secretariat in Abakaliki, ahead of the Local Government elections scheduled for August.
The LP, while affirming its readiness to participate in the polls, dismissed claims by EBSIEC that the party’s state executive council was not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Henry Ude, said the process outlined by EBSIEC was not favourable to the party but expressed satisfaction that LP had fulfilled all requirements for participation in the election.
“After all the hurdles , we were able to fulfill all righteousness by meeting up with our obligations concerning our participation in the forthcoming local government election and by tomorrow we will be submitting our list to EBSIEC and we hope that the campaign and the election proper will be transparent and we the members of the Labour Party are fully prepared and when the timetable of EBSIEC comes out time for campaign.
“We will campaign vigorously because the Labour Party is the only opposition now that we can see in Ebony State. And with what has just happened during the sells of forms of the ruling party, this is an opportunity for those that were short-change, those that were used and dumped” Chief Ude said.
Ude, who further dismissed claims questioning the authenticity of the state executive by EBSIEC, clarified that the leadership was duly recognised by INEC and the party’s National Secretariat.
“If you have been following the general situation in the country, you will note that the Supreme Court has already given judgment concerning the leadership of the Labour Party in favour of our national chairman presently, Senator Nainadi Ousmane and the National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
“And the Federal High Court Abuja recently, this January, reaffirmed the decision of the Apex Court. And they also ordered INEC to remove the name of Julius Abure and replace them with that of Senator Nenadi Usman,. So, as we speak, what the jettisoned Chairman is saying is baseless.
“He is just dribbling himself. He knows the truth.
And we presented them with all the evidences. And based on that, they are now communicating with my office directly. You can have a look. What is this? us. If we are not recognized, why keeping an open communication with us?” He clarified.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of the party, Comrade Innocent Igiri, warned against any alleged plan by EBSIEC to rig the election in favour of the APC, stating that such move would be resisted by the people of the state.
“In support of what the chairman has said, I want to make it clear that any attempt by EBSIEC to rig the forthcoming 2026 LGA election in Ebonyi State will be fully resisted by Ebonyi people. We are ready.
“EBSIEC should be independent. We want to say it again, Ebonyi people will resist any single attempt. We are following the processes. Our eyes are on the ball. We are looking at taking a lot of local governments and words. We are not missing any targets. We have completed all the processes. Submitted. Igiri said.
Igiri also said the party had only one recognised secretariat in the state and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to alleged impostors to desist from parading themselves as party officials.
He further called on Ebonyi residents to mobilise fully for the Labour Party in the forthcoming elections and ensure that the party’s votes were protected.
