Only INEC Can Determine Legality of Otti and Obi’s Role in Labour Party, Says Tanko

Tanko emphasizes that only INEC has the authority to decide the legality of Alex Otti and Peter Obi’s involvement in Labour Party matters, amid ongoing political debates.

Yunusa Tanko, a leader in the Labour Party, asserts that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the authority to determine if Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and Peter Obi’s recent involvement in the party is legitimate.

The party’s interim leadership was established through the involvement of Governor Otti and Obi, who had run as their presidential candidate in the 2023 election. A caretaker committee comprising 29 individuals was then formed.

Nenadi Usman, the former Minister of Finance, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Committee.

On Monday’s edition of Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, Tanko stated that INEC is the only authority capable of determining the legality of the intervention when questioned about it.

Tanko stated that INEC is responsible for examining the legality of the matter and delivering a verdict. He clarified that he has no involvement with it currently since they are in charge of conducting elections, adding that they possess knowledge regarding legal guidelines making them the ideal authority to provide an opinion on this issue.

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Senator Darlington Nwokocha, who had previously held the position of Senate Deputy Minority Leader, has been chosen as the Secretary of a committee tasked with overseeing an election for new leadership within 90 days. This decision was announced by party leaders during a meeting convened by Otti.

The committee also consisted of representatives from different interest groups such as NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives and Assembly members, as well as candidates who ran for governor in the recent election.

The committee was rejected by the leadership of the party led by Julius Abure, who claimed that Otti’s meeting was illegitimate and advised Nigerians to ignore its outcome.

According to a statement endorsed by the party’s publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the gathering was not arranged by the political group and as such does not represent its stance or interests.

The Abure camp articulated surprise at the fact that “the individual claiming to lead the caretaker committee is not affiliated with the Party. She emerged during Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign in a bid to aid his efforts.”