Oyo State Chairman of the Labour Party, Sadiq Atayese, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to include the party’s candidate for the August 16 Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election.

Atayese made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The state LP chairman pointed out that the candidate’s omission had influenced voters’ perception of the party’s involvement in the by-election.

He said this had significantly affected the party’s campaigns and other preparations for the upcoming by-election.

He said the party had taken the matter to court to compel INEC to include its candidate’s name and was now awaiting the date for the first hearing.

“We have equally staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office to register our displeasure on the matter and also to demand the next thing they want us to do.

“We have been trying to find out the basis for the omission. We don’t know whether it is a sponsored action by those who felt threatened or a technical glitch.

“As we speak, we are still asking INEC to explain the reason for the omission, but there has been no response yet,” he said.

Atayese called the situation frustrating, saying it deprived constituents of a candidate with a proven track record and the ability to deliver the dividends of democracy.

NAN recalls that the seat of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency became vacant following the demise of Hon. Olaide Akinremi in July 2024.

Akinremi, who passed away at 51, represented the constituency in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress.

He was first elected in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023.

NAN