By CHARLES IWUOHA

Tension heightened on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) in Abakaliki following allegations by the Labour Party (LP) that the commission was deliberately frustrating its participation in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

The Ebonyi State Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Henry Ude, made the allegation while addressing journalists after leading party officials to the EBSIEC office to obtain nomination forms for the polls.

Ude claimed that despite several visits, the commission had refused to issue the party with the required forms.

According to him, officials of the party were denied access to both the Chairman and Secretary of EBSIEC, even though their official vehicles were reportedly seen within the commission’s premises.

“We are here to collect our party nomination forms because we intend to participate in this upcoming local government election. To our greatest surprise, they refused to see us or issue the forms,” Ude said.

He described the situation as a calculated attempt to disenfranchise the Labour Party and vowed that the party would explore all legal options to ensure its participation in the election.

“This is unacceptable. We will take all necessary legal actions to ensure that we participate in this election. Ebonyi people deserve a choice,” he added.

Ude also expressed concern over the alleged high cost of nomination forms associated with the election process, arguing that such costs undermine the credibility of the polls.

“There can be nothing like a free and fair election when forms are said to be as high as N30 million. That automatically shuts out ordinary citizens,” he said, adding that the Labour Party would make its own forms affordable or even free to encourage wider participation.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Labour Party in the state, Comrade Innocent Igiri, accused EBSIEC of using bureaucratic tactics to edge the party out of the election. He said Wednesday’s visit marked the 10th time the party had approached the commission to obtain the forms.

“Everything they asked us to bring, we brought. Yet, they keep refusing to attend to us. There is an underground plan to disenfranchise Labour Party because they are afraid of us,” Igiri alleged.

He further claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was uncomfortable with the growing popularity of the Labour Party in the state.

“They know Labour Party is the only viable opposition in Ebonyi State. They know we will win in many local governments, including Uburu,” he said.

However, the Chairman of EBSIEC, Mr Patrick Enyi, denied the allegations, insisting that the commission had no intention of excluding the Labour Party from the local government elections.

Enyi explained that the delay in issuing nomination forms was due to discrepancies between the names of Labour Party officials who approached the commission and the official list of party leadership provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We respect the Labour Party as a duly registered political party. But the guidelines are clear: only the chairman or secretary whose names are certified by INEC can collect the forms,” he said.

According to him, issuing nomination forms to individuals not recognised by INEC could expose the commission to legal challenges.

“INEC is the only body that determines party leadership. Once Labour Party resolves any discrepancy with INEC and comes back with clarification, we are ready to issue the forms,” Enyi stated.

He also dismissed claims of financial barriers at the current stage of the process, noting that EBSIEC does not charge parties fees to obtain nomination forms for the conduct of primaries.

“There is no monetary implication at this stage. Parties are expected to collect the forms, conduct their primaries, and invite us to observe,” he said, adding that the process is time-bound.

Enyi warned that political parties that fail to complete their primaries before the February 3 deadline risk being excluded from the ballot.

The unfolding controversy has raised concerns among political observers over the transparency and inclusiveness of the forthcoming local government elections in Ebonyi State, with calls for urgent resolution to avert legal battles and possible voter apathy.

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