Reps seat: LP raises alarm over alleged moves by INEC to frustrate appeal

<p>The Labour Party, LP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of allegedly collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to remove the member representing the Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah.</p>, <p>DAILY POST recalls that the lawmaker who was earlier declared winner of the February 25 election was sacked by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia on September 29.</p>, <p>The Reps member, however, rejected the ruling by the tribunal and filed an appeal at the Appellate Court.</p>, <p>The hearing of the appeal was, however, stalled on Thursday following a drama that ensued at the Appeal Court in Lagos State.</p>, <p>According to an open letter to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, issued on Friday by the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, there were squabbles in the courtroom following the alleged sudden decision of the electoral umpire, who is also a respondent in the case, to change its lawyer without prior notice.</p>, <p>The letter revealed that while the party opposed the sudden change, some supporters of the ruling APC and a faction of the LP backed the development, leading to the adjournment of the hearing.</p>, <p>Parts of the letter read, “Sir, what played out yesterday, 19th day of October, 2023, was unbelievable; hence, we call on you to nip the development in the bud to avoid a messy situation.</p>, <p>“INEC had engaged a Senior Counsel, J.O. Asoluka (SAN), as its lawyer with a letter of authorization to represent the Commission.</p>, <p>“But at the commencement of the hearing at the Appeal Court, another lawyer surfaced with another letter of authority to take over the case of the self-same INEC without prior notice to J.O Asoluka (SAN), that the new counsel had been engaged.</p>, <p>“They also did not see any need to inform the Plaintiff of the development as required by law. When the matter thus came up, a squabble ensued between the