The Labour Party has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services over the alleged unauthorised distribution of nomination forms by the party’s former national chairman, Julius Abure.
The party’s National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the party’s screening exercise for aspirants on Thursday in Abuja.
Usman said copies of the petitions submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and the DSS had also been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
She described the alleged circulation of the forms as illegal, insisting that the leadership elected during the party’s convention in Umuahia remained the recognised authority of the party.
According to her, INEC monitored and acknowledged the convention, adding that the names of the current party officials were already reflected on the commission’s official records.
“We were surprised by the development because after the court ruled that his tenure had expired, we conducted a national convention in Umuahia and elected new leaders,” she said.
Usman maintained that the party had yet to receive any formal notice regarding an alleged appeal filed by Abure at the Supreme Court over the leadership dispute.
She expressed confidence that the apex court would uphold its earlier position on the matter.
The LP chairman also alleged that some aspirants had been deceived into purchasing forms that were not officially issued by the party leadership.
“One of the aspirants approached me with a form his wife purchased, but it was not among the forms issued by us. People are being misled and it is unfortunate,” she stated.
Speaking on preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, Usman said the party remained strong, judging by the growing number of aspirants seeking to contest on its platform.
She disclosed that three aspirants had already purchased the party’s presidential nomination forms.
Usman, however, reaffirmed the party’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
“We have resolved that our presidential candidate for 2027 must come from the South. Anyone from the North interested in purchasing the form should not bother,” she added.
