The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Obiora Ifoh has claimed victory for the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, whose election at the National convention of the party held in Nnewi on March 26, 2024, has been declared valid by an Abuja High Court which, in a ruling, yesterday (Thursday, July 25), held that it had no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of a political party and therefore couldn’t help the plaintiff who had asked the court to invalidate the said convention.Â
According to a release by Ifoh, the court presided over by Justice J.K Omotosho held that how the LP planned and executed its convention was entirely its internal affairs and as such were outside the purview of the Court.
In the ruling delivered on July 18, 2024, in a SUIT NO FHC/ABJ/CS/397/2024, between Mr. Lawrence Erewele (Plaintiff) and Labour Party, Julius Abure (National Chairman), INEC and others, Justice Omotosho was quoted as saying that Labour Party observed the provisions of Sections 82(1), 82(3) and 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Articles 7, 13(1), 13(1) (b) (ii), 13(1) (b) (viii) and 13 (1) () (ix) of the party constitution in holding its convention and that the resolutions passed are binding on Labour Party members.
The statement further claimed that the court also dismissed the issue of insufficient notice from the party to the INEC describing the Plaintiff as a meddlesome interloper who based his suit on spurious claims without any credible proof and who is neither the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nor a representative of the Commission.
The statement quoted the Judge, as saying: “Issues regarding delegates at a National Convention or how the convention is planned and executed are outside the jurisdiction of this Court being internal affairs of the Labour Party. Consequently, the suit is liable to be dismissed on the ground that the issues therein are non-justiciable.”
On not meeting the 21-day required notice to INEC to conduct the convention, Justice Omotosho said that the Labour Party did not default having sent its notices which exceeded the 21-day notice required by section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022.Â
“It must be noted that the 21 days began to run from the date the first notice was sent and not when the last notice was sent. From the day the 5th Defendant received the initial notice, it had become aware that the 1st Defendant wanted to hold its national convention and it was left for it to organize its officers to monitor the convention and make reports. The whole idea of the mandatory 21 days notice was for the 5th Defendant to have sufficient time to monitor the convention.”
The judge was quoted as saying that the decision to attend a convention, primary, or a meeting of a political party with or without notice is at the discretion of the INEC.
“It could decide to attend the convention even where the “notice ” is insufficient. This would not invalidate the meeting, Primary, or convention,” Justice Omotosho was further quoted as ruling.
“The Plaintiff in this case has simply decided to meddle in what is not his business. The Plaintiff is not the 5th Defendant, neither is he a staff of the 5th Defendant to complain about the inadequacy of notice served on the 5th Defendant in the lead up to the National Convention of ist Defendant.”
On the argument that Abure and a few of his executive members planned and executed the convention without the input of the National Executive Committee, contrary to the Constitution of the Labour Party, Justice Omotosho said that there was nothing on record to show that Abure and his working committee acted unilaterally in planning and executing the National Convention. Rather they acted in concert with other members of the NWC and NEC to organize the Convention.
“‘In the light of the evidence before this Court, it is obvious to this Court that the Plaintiff based his suit on spurious claims without any credible proof. The Plaintiff cannot rely on ‘bare ‘assertions or make speculations without any proof of the same. Mere assertions without credible proof are insufficient and would not avail the Plaintiff,” Justice Omotosho reportedly said, adding:
“It is clear that his suit is borne out of malicious and paper-thin evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the Defendants. The fact that he did not hear about the planning for the National Convention to enable him to attend as a Delegate cannot invalidate the National Convention of the party.
“The Plaintiff as an aggrieved member of the party can resort to internal dispute resolution mechanisms under the party’s constitution to air his grievance since the party is a democracy.
“In the final analysis, this Court cannot exercise jurisdiction over this suit being an internal affairs matter of a political party as well as lack of — locus standi on the part of the Plaintiff Where the Court assumes jurisdiction over the suit, the suit has no merit. Consequently, it is hereby dismissed.”
