- Peter Okoye warned that anyone working with Abure faction risks sanctions under LP rules and party discipline.
- Residents were urged to vote for candidates demonstrating proven integrity and adherence to lawful political practices.
The Labour Party (LP) in Anambra has applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for excluding candidates from the Julius Abure-led faction in the upcoming by-elections.
The exclusion by the electoral body led to a protest march to INEC’s Abuja headquarters on August 6.
The affected candidates emerged from primaries conducted by the Abure-led national working committee (NWC) during a leadership crisis within the party.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Awka, Peter Okoye, LP chairman in Anambra, warned that any individual or group still conducting party business with Abure and his allies does so at the risk of sanctions.
“We commend INEC’s decision. The commission has shown respect for the rule of law,” he said.
Okoye also asked residents to turn out in large numbers on Saturday and vote only for candidates with proven integrity, according to NAN.
He stressed that the party has no candidate in the by-elections and no alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The LP chairman reiterated that the party in the state will always operate within the boundaries of the law.
Okoye further expressed confidence in the leadership of the faction led by Nenadi Usman, the party’s interim chairman and minister of finance.