The Labour Party in Imo State has opened up on the September 21, 2024 local government election, saying it would boycott the polls unless the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to conduct the exercise.
State Chairman, Hon. Barr Calistus Ihejiagwa, was quoted to have made the declaration during a town hall meeting and one-year anniversary celebration of Hon. Sir Tochukwu Okere, member representing Owerri federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
Ihejiagwa expressed doubts about the democratic credentials of Senator Hope Uzodinma, saying the party has no confidence in his ability to ensure a free, fair, and credible local government election.
He described the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) as an offshoot of the Imo government, constituted to rig APC members into power.
The Labour Party chairman insisted that the party will only participate in the election if INEC is involved, citing concerns about the integrity of the process.
He urged party members to focus on the forthcoming Congress in September rather than wasting their time on the council election, which he described as a sham.
Ihejiagwa alleged that the local government election would be highly influenced by the ruling APC and the state Electoral Umpire, ISIEC set up by the Governor.
However, sources told this newspaper that the Imo Labour Party’s decision to boycott the election is pending authorization from the National leadership of the party.
Aside the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, three opposition parties in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Social Democratic Party, SDP and African Democraic Congress, ADC have signaled interest to participate in the polls