Ogun Council Poll: Labour Party sues Governor Amosun, state electoral body August 20, 2016 news by Akintaro oluwafemi Akinz
The Ogun State chapter of the
Labour Party has instituted a
court action against the Ogun
State Independent Electoral
Commission over the alleged
exclusion of the party in the
preparation for the October 8
local government election in the
state.
The acting Chairman of LP in the
state, Abayomi Arabambi, who
disclosed this on Saturday, said
the suit was filed before a State
High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, the
state capital.
He said the party was seeking an
order restraining OGSIEC and its
chairperson, Risikat Ogunfemi,
from carrying on with the
conduct of the council poll.
He accused the electoral body of
preventing the party’s candidates
from participating in the poll by
rejecting the necessary
documents from them before the
deadline.
In the originating summons
deposed to by Mr. Arabambi,
state secretary, Olaposi Oginni;
and another member, Abdul-
Sabur Sina Aroyeun, the LP “is
seeking a court declaration that
the date for the collection and
submission of the political
parties Form CF 001 and CF 002
be extended in other to
accommodate the party’s
candidates.”
The party also prayed the court
to determine whether or not, by
section 221 relevant sections of
Ogun state and the Election Time
Table, the forthcoming local
government election slated for
8th October can validly hold
without given form to all
interested parties.
The governor of Ogun State,
Ibikunle Amosun; the Attorney
General of the state and Mrs.
Ogunfemi were joined as
defendants in the suit.
The acting chairman said the party was
disturbed about the conduct of the election
because the OGSIEC was yet to publish
names of all polling units where election
would take place.
Meanwhile, a member of the Central
Working Committee of the LP, Sunday
Oginni, has said the party would
accommodate aggrieved members of the
Peoples Democratic Party interested in
joining its fold.
He stated this at a press conference in
Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday.
The PDP has been enmeshed in leadership
crisis in the past months leading to its
factionalisation.
Mr. Oginni, who was accompanied by some
chieftains of the party in Ogun State, assured
the aggrieved PDP members of fair treatment
but that they should be ready to comply with
his party’s rules and regulations.
“Our door is wide open for any member of
the dead Peoples Democratic Party, which
wake-keep is ongoing and interment is in the
offing,” he said.
“We shall accommodate members of the
party who have genuine intention to join us
and such would be given fair treatment.”
Mr. Oginni boasted that the LP had been
rebranded and was set to take over power
across the country in the next political
dispensation.