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Olasunkanmi Akinlotan
The Ogun state Labour Party has expressed displeasure over the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow it check the March 9th, electoral material despite the tribunal’s order.
The party made the complaint through its legal counsel Barr Hassan Bolagun on Sunday.
It would be recalled that the Labour Party is currently seeking redress in court over the unlawful exclusion of the party’s logo from the governorship ballot paper during the last election.
Barr. Balogun explained that the party moved a motion ex parte which was dated 4th of April, on the 9th of the same month and granted on the same day.
The lawyer further stated that, despite the order of the court the electoral umpire has refused to grant Labour Party access to the material even when they had allowed the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to inspect the same material.
He, however, vowed that, on the instruction of the party, a contempt proceeding will soon be filed against INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. AbdulGaniy Raji, in Ogun state.
His words, “On 9th of April, we moved a motion ex parte dated 4th of April for an order directing INEC to grant access to Labour Party to inspect electoral materials used for the March 9th governorship election.
“The application was move on 9th of April and granted by Honourable tribunal.
“Since the 15th of April till date, INEC has refused to allow us access to relevant documents. Subsequent to our letter, we have put several calls through to INEC officials here in their Abeokuta office yet they remain unyielding.
“Apparently, they have intentionally decided to disobey the Honourable tribunal. More so, when the same body has decided to grant access to APM to access the same document, we do not know the reason why INEC has decided to merry in contempt of court. But it is clear that their intention is to frustrate our petition and hinder the cause of justice.
“We have advised our client accordingly and we have their instruction to commence contempt proceeding against the REC and any of his colleague who is found wanting in that regard.
“We have also considered our other options in order to ensure that our client does not suffer or at most mitigate the effect of INEC persistence refusal to grant us access to the relevant electoral material and prosecute our client case diligently.
“Apparently Is that INEC refusal to comply with the order of the honourable tribunal which was granted on 9th of April was premeditated.” He opined
In his submission, the Chairman of the Party, Com. Abayomi Arabambi described the refusal of the electoral umpire as an instruction taken from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He said “Recently, the renowned human right Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) just complained about how this government was flouting court orders, same is playing out here.
“If our panel can be changed on mere request by APC apparently, the refusal of INEC for us to inspect the electoral materials, was an order from the ruling APC. But, as far as I am concerned there is nothing they would do, that will frustrate our case. And believe me, we would not withdraw our case.”
