Abdulsalam Remains National Chairman of Labour Party – INEC
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday dismissed reports of leadership change in the Labour Party (LP), saying it recognises only Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam as the Party’s authentic National Chairman.
To this ends, the electoral umpire declared it will continue to deal with National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led Alhaji Abdulsalam as National Chairman.
This clarification comes on the heels of recent development in the party where a group of NWC members reportedly revolted against the Abdulsalam-led Executives
But confirming Abdulsalam’s position in the party, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi said the Commission has not changed from its recognition of Abdulsalam as the Labour Party Chairman.
He added that if that has changed, the Commission would have reflected such on its website.
Oyekanmi said, “My brother, just go the website of the Commission, and you will see that there has been no effected change on the party’s Chairman. If the Chairman of the Labour Party has changed, the Commission would have done that by effecting such change on its website.
“So, whoever you see his name on the INEC website is the Chairman of the Labour Party”, he said.
The NWC rebels had accused Abdulsalam of alleged financial misappropriation, as well as acting as a sole administrator, while taking decisions on party matters.
The group, after its emergency NWC meeting recently in Abuja, announced the purported sacking of Abdulsalam, replacing him with former Rotary Club boss, Mike Omotosho.
However INEC backed the chairmanship of Abdulsalam, when he was recognised as the Labour Party National Chairman at the last consultative meeting with political parties at the national headquarters in Abuja.
The electoral body therefore prevented the LP faction under Omotosho’s chairmanship from attending the meeting, while Abdulsalam and his group were accorded full recognition by the commission.
Meanwhile, Abdulsalam had in a recent media briefing insisted that he remains the national Chairman of the party, stressing that the rebellious group had no powers to convene an NWC meeting.
