Ngozi Okolie: We are shocked, powerful forces behind the cancellation - LP

The Labor Party, LP leadership has reacted to the judgment of the National Assembly Electoral Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State, which dismissed Ngozi Okolie representing Aniocha/Oshimili constituency in the House of Representatives.

The party said it was shocked by the court ruling that it did not comply with the law.

This was contained in a statement released by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh on Tuesday in Abuja.

Recall that the court on Monday annulled the election of Okolie of the LP as a member of the House of Representatives and returned Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, as the genuine winner.

The court held that the LP candidate was not qualified to take part in the ballot.

However, the LP said an action based on determination of political party membership is not justiciable, insisting that the court's judgment is not acceptable to it.

The party further disclosed that they will be appealing the judgment.

"We note that the judgment is clearly inconsistent with the position of the law already established even by the superior courts, including the Supreme Court. The question of the nomination of candidates as well as membership are internal matters of the party beyond the jurisdiction of the courts. Only a political party can determine who are its members and who should be their standard bearer for an election.

“Courts have, in a plethora of cases, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party,” the party statement read.

While alleging that powerful people in Delta State were involved in the matter and that the party expected arm wrestling and political bravado, he however urged his supporters to remain calm as the party would ensure that none of his mandates were snatched away from him.