Moghalu’s Candidacy In Jeopardy: Labour Party Challenges Usman’s Committee’s Unlawful Threat

The committee, formed by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and Peter Obi, the LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, is at the center of the controversy.

Usman made her statement during the celebration that followed the presentation of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment at the parallel National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja. Usman vowed to review the ticket of Moghalu, the former boss of the National Inland Waterways Authority.

However, just a day after Usman’s announcement, a faction of the LP in Anambra State organized a parallel primary election, which resulted in the selection of Jude Umenajiego, a member of the state House of Assembly representing Onitsha South II Constituency, as the factional governorship candidate.

In an interview with Punch, LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh reaffirmed that INEC had officially recognized Moghalu as the party’s candidate. He dismissed Usman’s actions, stating, “Nenadi Usman has no legal standing. Her actions with the Abia Governor and our former presidential candidate at Transcorp Hotel were mere publicity stunts. She is not even a member of the Labour Party, let alone a stakeholder in any official capacity.”

Ifoh continued, “What they did was to make it look like they have some form of existence, but in the eyes of the law, they do not. That is why they cannot proceed with their plans. INEC has already validated the Anambra primary and witnessed the process, with the REC and 21 electoral officers monitoring the election from the wards to the state level.”

He emphasized that the REC had personally overseen the primaries, which resulted in Moghalu’s victory, and the Certificate of Return has already been issued to him in Anambra.