INEC did not obey court order to list me as Labour Party candidate — Oworu

Olumide Oworu has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply with a court order validating him as the Labour Party candidate contesting the Surulere 1 seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Oworu’s name was not listed among the candidates contesting the election by INEC on election day. The Labour Party candidate on the list is Adebayo Bode.

In a statement on Tuesday, he insisted that his participation in the election was not for ‘clout’ and stated that INEC failed to obey a court order.

“Regarding the authenticity of my candidacy and my name not appearing on the ballot, that is a situation that came about due to the failure of the INEC to comply with the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on the 2nd of February 2023 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2115/2022,” Oworu said.

“Wherein INEC was ordered to open her website to allow the labour party to submit the list of her candidates or accept the same manually immediately.

“INEC failed to upload the names on the list sent by the Labour Party in October 2022. I assure you that this endeavour was not one for clout but was borne out of a genuine desire for change.”

He added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) used thugs to disrupt the election in parts of the state and urged the people to continue to fight for a system where every vote counts and the will of the people is respected.

“While it is obvious that the ruling party engaged in thuggery and electoral malpractice, we must not lose sight of the fact that we stood for what was right and just.

“It is deeply concerning that such tactics are still being used in our democracy, and we must continue to fight for a system where every vote counts and the will of the people is respected.” (The Guardian)

•Lagos Labour Party chieftain Olumide Oworu