It’s suspicious – LP fumes as tribunal sacks its federal lawmakers

Several members of the Labour Party have been dismissed from their positions by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, and the party is concerned about this trend.

According to Infostride News, many elected members of the party in Edo, Abia, and other states had their elections voided by the tribunal due to discrepancies in their party membership and their method of nomination.

In light of this development, the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, released a statement in which he observed that “membership is an internal affair of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.”

The reasons for overturning our victory are things that have previously been addressed by the superior courts,” he stated.

To have two courts reach opposite conclusions on the same issue—as happened in APC v. Peter Obi before the Supreme Court and just recently before the Presidential Election Petition Court—is beyond absurd.

Courts have often ruled that they lack authority to resolve disputes within political parties.

Courts do not have the authority to rule on party internal matters, such as the nomination of candidates or membership. Only within a political party can members be selected and a candidate for office be chosen.

The leader of the Labour Party has said that the judges’ actions raise suspicions, calling their rulings “reckless.”

To investigate the lawyers’ actions, he requested intervention from the Nigerian Judicial Council.

“Though the tribunal is not the final court, we frown at the recklessness of our judicial officers in entering a judgement that looks suspicious,” the authors write.

Therefore, we are petitioning the Nigeria Judicial Council to look into the ongoing injustice and investigate whether or not any of our legal officers have been compromised or found wanting in their performance of official duties.

As the ruling party aggressively pursues a one-party system, the opposition Labour Party must be pushed to open more political space. Abure continued, “And pushing the party under a moving trailer isn’t going to help anyone.