December 30, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that Akin Osuntokun, the new Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PPC), remains a senatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Osuntokun, before he was appointed the LP campaign DG, was a candidate of the ZLP for Ekiti Central Senatorial district.
He was appointed on Tuesday, by the LP as a replacement for Dr. Doyin Okupe, who resigned his position after he was convicted of breaching the Money Laundering Act.
Osuntokun had in a programme on Channels Television programme, said he had “abandoned” his senatorial bid under the ZLP to accept the LP campaign DG, a position he described as a “higher calling”.
But, the National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Friday, said Osuntokun remains the ZLP senatorial candidate as the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates had passed.
“He remains the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party. The window for withdrawal and substitution based on our timetable and the electoral act 2022 has closed. No candidate can withdraw, and none can come in except through a court order,” Okoye said.
On Osuntokun’s appointment as LP Director General, Okoye said “the issue of party appointments remains within the domestic realm of the parties and the commission has nothing to do with it.”
Meanwhile, the ZLP, in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu, said Osuntokun resigned from the party in August 2022.
“The controversy generated by the appointment of Mr Akin Osuntokun, as the DG of H/E Peter OBI Campaign Organisation is uncalled for.
“Akin Osuntokun resigned from the Zenith Labour Party since August 2022, and therefore, is no longer a member of our Party.
“Prior to his resignation from ZLP, he held the ticket as a senatorial candidate in Ekiti State. As at the time of his resignation, we could not replace him because the window allowed by the Electoral Act for substitution had elapsed.
“We hold no grudges because it is his fundamental right to associate and exit from any organisation. We wish him well in his newfound greener pasture.
“We believe this will put to rest the barrage of inquiries to us in this regard,” he said.
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