The Julious Abure-led Labour Party has sent a petition to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over what it alleged were acts of dishonour and infamy being perpetrated by officials of the commission, acting at the behest of agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to frustrate ongoing petitions at the tribunal in Lagos.
Ifoh said, “Mr. Chairman sir, we therefore bring to your notice an ugly incident that happened yesterday, 19th day of October, 2023 at Lagos State, venue of the Appeal Court on the Appeal No. CA/OW/HR/AB/06/2023 between the Labour Party candidate, Hon. Amobi Ogah, who is the plaintiff and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who is the Respondent. INEC is also a Respondent in that matter.
“But at the commencement of the hearing at the Appeal Court, another lawyer surfaced with another letter of authority to take over the case of the self-same INEC without prior notice to J.O Asoluka , that the new counsel had been engaged. They also did not see any need to inform the Plaintiff of the development as required by law. When the matter thus came up, a squabble ensued between the two counsels as to who had the authority of INEC to represent it in the case.