AMUWO 2023 : LABOUR PARTY HAS NO REPS CANDIDATE, INEC INSIST DURING STAKEHOLDERS PARLEY

PUSH NEWS 24 INTERNATIONAL: November 12, 2022

AMUWO 2023 : LABOUR PARTY HAS NO HOUSE OF REPS CANDIDATE, INEC INSIST AT PARLEY
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Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency on Monday, November 12, 2022, insisted that the Labour Party does not have any House of Representative Candidate for Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency that has been cleared by the electoral body to contest the 2023 general elections.

The position of the Agency was may public by the Electoral Officer during a stakeholders’ meeting with political parties and party candidates organized at INEC Office in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.

“This meeting is organized to solicit stakeholders’ co-operation in PVC collections, voters mobilization and
sensitization for the conduct of the 2023 general election and for the records Labour party has no House of Representative candidate for 2023″ he said.

The INEC Officer who confirmed the receipt of some documents on behalf of the Agency from some interested parties stated categorically that untill the Agency is properly served by a competent Court to the effect and all court judgments determined only the candidates published on the Agency sites have been dully cleared. He however said that any meaningful adjustments can only be made before the Agency goes to press otherwise the statusquo remains.

Push News 24 International reported earlier the non inclusion of Labour Party on the INEC site, and with this position, the various conflicting information flying around over the number of candidates contesting for the House of Representatives in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency will be put to rest untill otherwise stated by the electoral body.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party have been circulating a Court judgment purportedly mandating INEC to list 15 of Labour Party candidates on the Agency website.

Speaking further the Electoral Officer stressed that “The INEC is at the peak of activities and preparations for conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“In the light of this task, a constant critical stakeholders’ forum is a ladder through which the INEC will always deliver on the democratic process.
“We, therefore, sincerely appreciate your participation in today’s meeting, and encourage you to continue collaborating with the INEC to achieve our desired goal,” he said.

The general election is less than 75 days from today.

“Following the statutory period for the display of the register of voters for claims and objections, the commission has published timetable for collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

“INEC appreciates the patience and understanding of Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency residents, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer or replacement of their cards from January to July 2022.
“In making the cards available for collection, the commission is also working to ensure that the process is hitch-free.
“The Commission has fixed Monday, December 12, 2022 to Sunday, January 22, 2023 as dates for the collection of PVCs.

It is the wish of the commission to continue to pursue all violators of the Electoral Act to ensure their prosecution.

“The INEC will start the dispatch of non-sensitive materials to states sooner than wr think..
“A proactive arrangement is already in place for hitch-free distribution and deployment of election officials and materials to our various LGA offices.
“INEC at all levels is aware of the security situation in the country.
“We will continue to meet with heads of security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency consultative committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“We call on community leaders and traditional institutions including the Town Union PGs to assist security agents in their to ensure the protection of lives and property.
“This effort will instill public confidence for voters turnout in this state.
“INEC is at the top of voter education and sensitization campaign.
“The campaign and sensitization for PVCs collection by PVCs ambassadors and other civil society groups is expected to take over public spaces.
“We further call on the media to take up aggressive reportage and dissemination of information about ‘No PVC, No Vote’,” said the Electoral Officer

Explaining further steps taken by the Commission to mainstream marginalized groups in the electoral process, the OPC Chairman said, “You will agree with me that in time past the Commission made it a priority to deliver free, fair and credible elections. I am not saying that we have fully succeeded in that, but after making some incremental improvements on that, we have also tried to address the issue of marginalized groups and we have taken concrete steps to mainstream gender and marginalized groups”.

“Based on this effort we were able to articulate a policy on Gender and this policy has been reviewed and is due for implementation. We have also articulated a framework for relating with youths – the Youth Engagement Strategy (YES). we have also articulated a framework for training and engaging with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).”

Political parties present commended the efforts of INEC in Amuwo Odofin for their transparency and inclusiveness.

All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representative Candidate, Prince Lanre A. Sanusi (PLS) while addressing the gathering at a stakeholders’ meeting, said that the commission should painstakingly listen to stakeholders across board, who emphasized transparency, inclusivity, and credibility of the electoral deliverables, as well as security and peaceful conduct of the exercise.

The security agencies urged politicians, particularly those in the race to play by the rules of the game, and also warned youths to shun the politics of thuggery, capable of disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the LGA.

The stakeholders meeting was attended by all accredited political parties in Amuwo odofin who sponsored candidates, the Police, Civil Defense, DSS, amongst others.