Ogun Council Poll: Labour Party Sues Governor Amosun, State Electoral Body

The Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party has instituted a court action against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission over the alleged exclusion of the party in the preparation for the October 8 local government election in the state.

The acting Chairman of LP in the state, Abayomi Arabambi, who disclosed this on Saturday, said the suit was filed before a State High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

He said the party was seeking an order restraining OGSIEC and its chairperson, Risikat Ogunfemi, from carrying on with the conduct of the council poll.
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He accused the electoral body of preventing the party’s candidates from participating in the poll by rejecting the necessary documents from them before the deadline.

In the originating summons deposed to by Mr. Arabambi, state secretary, Olaposi Oginni; and another member, Abdul-Sabur Sina Aroyeun, the LP “is seeking a court declaration that the date for the collection and submission of the political parties Form CF 001 and CF 002 be extended in other to accommodate the party’s candidates.”

The party also prayed the court to determine whether or not, by section 221 relevant sections of Ogun state and the Election Time Table, the forthcoming local government election slated for 8th October can validly hold without given form to all interested parties.

The governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; the Attorney General of the state and Mrs. Ogunfemi were joined as defendants in the suit.

The acting chairman said the party was disturbed about the conduct of the election because the OGSIEC was yet to publish names of all polling units where election would take place.

Meanwhile, a member of the Central Working Committee of the LP, Sunday Oginni, has said the party would accommodate aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party interested in joining its fold.

He stated this at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday.

The PDP has been enmeshed in leadership crisis in the past months leading to its factionalisation.

Mr. Oginni, who was accompanied by some chieftains of the party in Ogun State, assured the aggrieved PDP members of fair treatment but that they should be ready to comply with his party’s rules and regulations.

“Our door is wide open for any member of the dead Peoples Democratic Party, which wake-keep is ongoing and interment is in the offing,” he said.

“We shall accommodate members of the party who have genuine intention to join us and such would be given fair treatment.”

Mr. Oginni boasted that the LP had been rebranded and was set to take over power across the country in the next political dispensation.