UPN Crisis: INEC Rejects Fasehun’s UPN Convention

The crisis in the Unity Party of Nigeria [UPN] has taken a new dimension with the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] dissociating itself from the recent convention held of the party in Lagos.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abuja, on Saturday.

The INEC letter, which was addressed to the UPN Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said a convention can only be organised with the approval of the party’s NEC, which was not the case with what happened in Lagos.

The letter entitled Re: Notice for National Convention reads"

"Please refer to your letter dated 24th December, 2014 advising the Commission that your party’s national convention is scheduled to hold on 9th January ,2015.

"This is to inform you that the commission is in receipt of another letter dated 5th, January 2015, under the signature of the UPN National Secretary that non-compliance with Article IV, Section 1:1 of the constitution of UPN in scheduling of the National Convention vide the notice of 24th, December, 2014.

"Having considered the issue raised in the said letter, the commission has directed that you be advised to comply with Article IV, Section 1:1 of your party’s constitution by convening a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to approve the place and time of the National Convention.

"Accordingly, your party is required to provide a notice for national convention that is supported by clear evidence of compliance with the relevant provision of the constitution of UPN which empowers the National Executive Committee (NEC) to prescribe the place and time of the Party’s National Convention."

The party had been engulfed in crisis, with a faction of the National Executive Committee suspending Fasehun as chairman.

It appointed his deputy, Dr. Manzo Abubakar, as acting chairman.

However, Fasehun’s faction organised a convention in Lagos on January 9, and appointed replacements for other members of the executive, in addition to endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.

Credit: The Punch