The Labour Party group in Ebonyi State has vowed to boycott the forthcoming local government election in the state, with the view that it was ‘a one-party activity’.
Splendour Oko-Eze, a notable chieftain of the political party had made this known while discussing with newsmen shortly after the conclusion of a meeting with party members at the San Diego Hotel in Abakaliki.
What They’re Saying:
The political party chieftain had said;
“Local government election in Nigeria, as it is today, is known to be selection, not an election.“Labour Party will not take part in such a selection activity. We in the National Transition Committee have already started the process of repositioning the party in the country and Ebonyi State is not left behind.”
Why It Matters
By labeling the election as a “selection, not an election,” the Labour Party is willingly choosing to challenge the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral processes in Ebonyi State, with a particular regard to the local government election due to be held soon. This is not a common move in the political scene in Nigeria, this there major concerns about this decision.
One such concern is that the Labour Party’s decision could negatively impact the elections in Ebonyi as a boycott by them will no doubt reduce the competition, thereby allowing the ruling party/majority party to dominate without significant opposition.
But one can acknowledge that their latest stance against the perceived undemocratic practices in the state is aimed to strengthen its credibility and appeal to voters who value trustworthiness and are disenchanted with the current system.
