The Labour Party (LP), Abia State chapter, has distanced itself from the directive of its former chairman, Mr. Ceekay Igara on the scheduled November 2 council elections.
Igara had, in an earlier announcement, directed the public to where to purchase nomination forms for the party’s primaries ahead of the forthcoming local government election in the State.
However, the acting Chairman of the party in the State, Emmanuel Nwaeze Oti, enjoined the public to disregard Igara’s announcement, which he described as unauthorized and misleading.
Oti said that Igara has no authority to make such an announcement, as his tenure has expired alongside other members of the State and national working committees, which prompted INEC to cease to recognise them.
“It is on this basis that the party set up a National Caretaker Committee chaired by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
“Any statement or instruction concerning the affairs of the party shall emanate from the Caretaker Committee. Anything to the contrary should be viewed as an act of impersonation, and properly reported to the appropriate quarters.
“The Labour Party Abia State is not interested in extorting members of the public nor obtaining money from them by trick, hence we are poised to ensure that the sale of forms and selection of candidates are done in a responsible, orderly and peaceful manner so as to ensure that peace reigns even after the exercise,” Nwaeze Oti said.
The LP Acting Chairman further announced that the party’s primary elections for Chairman and councilors would be held on Friday, October 4, advising all aspirants to adhere strictly to the time-table as there would be no more extension.
Meanwhile, one of those appointed by the former chairman as a member of the screening committee for the poll, Rev Andrew Ohiagba, has rejected his nomination.
In rejecting the nomination, Ohiagba said: “I reject the nomination as a member of the screening committee for the Local Government Election, headed by Hon. Ceekay lgara.
“I am not part of this conduct. I stand with the Labour Party under the leadership of Dr Alex Otti, the Executive Governor of Abia State.”