2027: Lagos LP challenges INEC over ‘strange’ guber candidate name

The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, has disputed the governorship candidate listed for the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that Comrade Lanre Adeleke emerged from its primary election held on May 30, 2026.

The party stated its position in a statement signed by its Lagos State official, Comrade Ola Agboola, ahead of a special press conference convened to address what it described as developments surrounding the governorship primary.

According to the Lagos LP, the exercise was conducted on May 30 in line with the Electoral Act, the Labour Party Constitution and INEC guidelines. The party’s national timetable had indeed been adjusted to May 30 for its governorship and other primary elections.

The state chapter said delegates drawn from the 20 local government areas participated in the exercise, where Adeleke was unanimously affirmed as the party’s governorship candidate.

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It added that party agents, INEC officials, security personnel and members of the media were present during the primary.

However, the party said it was concerned that the name subsequently published by INEC did not correspond with the candidate it claimed emerged from the May 30 exercise.

“It was therefore with deep surprise and concern that we observed the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) bearing a different name from the candidate who was validly elected by our members,” the statement said.

The Lagos LP said it had activated its internal mechanisms to challenge the development and protect what it described as the mandate given to Adeleke by party members.

It said petitions had been submitted to the party’s National Working Committee, while engagements had also been held with relevant stakeholders in an effort to resolve the matter.

The party further disclosed that Adeleke had commenced legal proceedings to challenge the development and seek redress.

“This Special Press Conference is convened to set the records straight,” the statement said.

The Lagos Labour Party urged its members, residents of the state and Nigerians generally to take note of its account of the May 30 primary and the events that followed.

It also called for the protection of internal democracy, arguing that the decision of party members should not be undermined by what it described as administrative errors or political manipulation.

“We must collectively protect our democracy, defend the sanctity of the ballot, even within parties, and ensure that the voice of the people is not subverted by administrative errors or political manipulations,” the statement said.

The party maintained that it would pursue the dispute through peaceful and lawful channels.

“We remain committed to a peaceful, lawful, and democratic resolution,” it said.

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