The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has not taken a decision on the leadership crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has not taken a decision on the leadership crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Thursday evening, through a statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi.
The clarification by the electoral umpire came on the heels of reports that the Commission had recognised the disputed national chairman of LP, Julius Abure as well as Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the national secretary of the PDP.
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INEC had shortly after the Supreme Court pronouncement on the leadership crisis rocking LP and PDP, sought for time to study the implications of the judgement. While the Commission is yet to come out with its position on the matter, interpretations and insinuations were made on it by interest groups in the two parties.
Oyekanmi however described the reports as false and misleading. The statement read:
“Our attention has been drawn to some media reports claiming that the Commission has recognised certain persons as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP).”
“The reports also inferred that the Commission has restored a particular individual as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referring to the listings on the Commission’s official website.
“However, the reports are false and misleading. The commission has not made any decision in respect of either the LP or PDP,” Oyekanmi said.
He said the names of the national officers of the LP had previously been uploaded to INEC website following a court order, and not related in any way to the latest judgement of the Supreme Court.
He said, “In the same manner, the name of the National Secretary of the PDP on the same website was neither deleted nor reinstated.
“As a law-abiding institution, the commission is carefully studying the judgement of the Supreme Court on the LP and will communicate its decision to the public in due course.”
