The crisis rocking Labour Party (LP) has taken a new turn as some members of the party acting on the aegis of Labour Party Youth Vanguard Monday protested to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) calling for the removal from its website the name of its immediate past National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalami.
Claiming that the retention of Abdulsalami’s name in the website is misleading, the placards – wielding group, led by its Coordinator, Abdullahi Ahmed, who converged at the gate of Commission pressed on INEC to recognize Mr Mike Omotosho as the new national chairman of the party.
According to the Labour Party Youth Vanguard, Omotosho emerged as the new national chairman following a special convention monitored by INEC, the police and the media after the police had indicted Salami for criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and forgery.
The group stated that Labour Party had duly informed INEC in writing, and due process followed in the removal of the former chairman.
The LP Youth Vanguard also stated that the party obtained a court injunction restraining the former Chairman from having access to the National Secretariat of the party.
Narating to INEC why Salami was removed from office, the LP Youth Vanguard stated, “Allegation of embezzlement, forgery and anti-party activities were levelled against the former Chairman, Alhaji A.A. Salam and arising from a petition from a Governorship candidate of our Party in the just concluded Anambra State Governorship election, Engr. Christian Ikechukwu Enemuo wherein he accused Alhaji A.A. Salam of defrauding him of the sum of Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (20,500,000.00) without giving him the Party’s ticket even where he was the lone candidate.
“Consequently, the National Working Committee of the party met and reviewed the allegations and a disciplinary committee was set up to give fair hearing to all sides.
“The former Chairman, Treasurer, Legal Adviser and National Vice Chairman South East refused to appear before the committee and another letter requesting their response in writing was forwarded to them.
“All correspondence as aforementioned already stated that failure to appear and respond will attract consequences such as suspension from the party and removal from office.
“The National Working Committee later met to ratify the report of the Disciplinary Committee where it was agreed that the case of fraud and embezzlement be reported to the Police.
“The Police have since indicted him for criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery and The Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed in writing, the 21 days notice was duly given, the Police was informed and all other procedures followed diligently.
“The Special Convention was held on the 3rd of October, 2017. Three members of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored, the Police was present, the Media and other stakeholders were present and all the laid down rules in our constitution were followed to the letter.
“The former Chairman, Alhaji A.A. Salam was removed from office.
“A new National Chairman, Dr. Mike Omotosho emerged in the convention. As already noted the special National Convention was monitored by INEC but we are aware of the efforts made by Alhaji A.A. Salam to compromise some principal officers in INEC in order to delay the recognition processes of Dr. Mike Omotosho as Chairman.
“However, it is the responsibility and within the purview of Political Parties to determine the officers of the Party and communicate same to INEC for effective working relationship and this has been done since 4th October making it 121 days”, they said.
“In conclusion, we urge you to use your good offices to prevail on relevant officers within INEC to remove the former Chairman’s name from the INEC website and replace with Dr. Mike Omotosho, the new Chairman.”
INEC’s Director of Security, Musa Sekpe who received the protesters said he would deliver their message to the chairman.
