Tribunal judgement on Aniocha/Oshimili unsettling — LP

<p>The Labour Party (LP) has been unsettled by the judgement sacking the Member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party, Ngozi Okolie, representing the Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency in the House of Representatives.</p>, <p>In a statement released by the party and signed by the factional national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party expressed shock at the judgement, which it believed was outside the jurisdiction of the Court.</p>, <p>“The court ruled that Hon. Ngozi Okolie was not a member of the Labour Party by the date of the primary election, and thus, he was not properly sponsored by the party,” the party said.</p>, <p>Disturbed by the development, the party disputed this judgement and said it would appeal it while it maintained that the nomination of any candidate was the prerogative of the party.</p>, <p>The Party, which said it would appeal the case, also pointed out that the issue of party membership was the exclusive right of the party, and the issue of nomination has been settled in several cases.</p>, <p>“We note that the judgment is clearly inconsistent with the position of the law already settled even by superior courts, including the Supreme Court.</p>, <p>“The issue of nomination of candidates as well as membership are internal affairs of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.</p>, <p>“It is only a political party that can determine who its members are and who their flag bearer for an election should be.</p>, <p>“The courts have in a plethora of cases held that the court has no jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party.</p>, <p>“In the case of Ardo & Anor V. Nyako & Ors (2013) LPELR-CA/YL/15/2012 (consolidated), the court of appeal, per Per Denton-West, J.C.A., held that; “However, it is a notorious principle of law that courts have no right whatsoever to descend into the internal affairs of political parties as to choose their candidates for them” or decide the status of their membership.</p>, <p>“This position is more vividly ex