By Our correspondent
Shockwaves have hit the political camp of Chief George Moghalu, Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Anambra State, following the party’s exclusion from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list for the August 16 Anambra South Senatorial rerun.
The omission, which dropped like a political bombshell, has triggered palpable fear and confusion just weeks before the decisive contest that was expected to measure the party’s growing influence in the district.
Analysts link the development to the April 4 Supreme Court judgment which removed Julius Abure as national chairman, throwing the party’s structures and nominations into legal uncertainty.
A source within the party was blunt:“Anyone who purchased nomination forms from Abure cannot contest on Labour Party’s platform. You can’t build something on nothing.
“The authentic leadership of the party is now in the hands of Senator Nenadi Usman. Abure is history, and every action he took stands invalid,” the insider told our correspondent.
In a quick response, the campaign organisation of the party’s senatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Chuma Nzeribe, dismissed the omission as a temporary setback.
In a strongly worded statement, the team insisted the party was still in the race:
“We have seen the so-called list being brandished by our opposition, jubilating that our beloved Labour Party has been excluded from the rerun.
“Be assured that Labour Party has already taken steps to rectify the omission. The name of our candidate will be published.
“Only two weeks ago, INEC pulled a similar stunt in the FCT, which was later corrected.
“Rt. Hon. Chuma Nzeribe and Labour Party shall actively participate in the August 16 rerun despite the smear campaign. What our opponents fear is the popularity of our candidate.”
Despite the bravado, the uncertainty has cast a long shadow over the party’s plans, heightening fears that the rerun may proceed without its presence on the ballot unless the electoral body or a court reverses the exclusion.
As the August 16 rerun looms, the battle lines are drawn, and the fate of the Labour Party in Anambra South may now depend on last-minute legal and political manoeuvres.
