The Youth Vanguard of the Labour Party (LP) has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to expunge the name of the party’s sacked chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, from its records including the commission’s official website.
In the petition dated February 5, 2018 and was submitted during the group’s protest at INEC headquarters, the youths said the former chairman severally failed to appear before a disciplinary committee which was set up to consider some allegations against him, a development which led to his subsequent replacement with Dr. Mike Omotosho.
Part of the petition which was signed by the coordinator of the vanguard, Abdullahi Ahmed reads: “We wish to draw your attention to the refusal of your esteemed institution to remove Alhaji A. A. Salam from the INEC website since it is misleading the general Public.
“We hereby inform you as follows. Allegations of fraud, embezzlement, forgery and anti-party activities were levelled against the former Chairman, Alhaji A.A. Salam and arising from a petition from the Governorship candidate of our party in the just concluded Anambra state governorship election, Engr. Christian Ikechukwu Enemuo, wherein he accused Alhaji A. Abdulsalam of defrauding him of the sum of Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (20,500,000.00) without giving him the party’s ticket even where he was the lone candidate. Consequently, the National Working Committee of the party met and reviewed the allegations and a disciplinary committee was set up to give fair hearing to all sides.
“The former Chairman, Treasurer, Legal Adviser and National Vice Chairman South East refused to appear before the committee and another letter requesting their response in writing was forwarded to them. All correspondence as aforementioned already stated that failure to appear and respond will attract consequences such as suspension from the party and removal from office.
“The National Working Committee later met to ratify the report of the Disciplinary Committee where it was agreed that the case of fraud and embezzlement be reported to the police. The police have since indicted him for criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery and the Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed in writing, the 21-day notice was duly given, the police was informed and all other procedures followed diligently.
“The Special Convention was held on the 3rd of October, 2017. Three members of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored, the police was present, the Media and other stakeholders were present and all the laid down rules in our constitution were followed to the letter. The former Chairman, Alhaji A.A. Salam was removed from office. A new National Chairman, Dr. Mike Omotosho emerged in the convention.
“However, it is the responsibility and within the purview of Political Parties to determine the officers of the Party and communicate same to INEC for effective working relationship and this has been done since 4th October making it 121 days”.
