The Progressive Youths for Good Governance, a Good Governance Advocacy Youth Group in Abia State, has issued a warning regarding the legal ramifications of nominating a civil servant, Dr. Okereke Eze Aru, as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Local Government Election in Arochukwu on November 2nd.
Following an emergency meeting at Abia Hotels in Umuahia on Sunday, October 6th, 2024, the group accused certain Labour Party stakeholders, including Chief Nkem Okoro, of misleading the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, for their selfish interests.
Recall that the Mayor of Arochukwu LGA, Chief Joe Eze Aru, along with a few Labour Party members, recently declared Dr. Okereke Eze Aru—the Mayor’s younger brother and a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike—as the party’s candidate. This announcement, made in a video that circulated online, appeared to take place in a casual setting and excluded other aspiring candidates from the Labour Party.
The group pointed out that the Nigerian Federal Government had issued a circular on May 5, 2022, titled “Clarification on the Provision of Public Service vis-à-vis the Supreme Court Judgment Regarding the Participation of Civil Servants in Partisan Politics,” which followed a relevant Supreme Court ruling.
The circular states that the Office of the Head of Civil Service has received numerous requests for clarification concerning the participation of civil servants in partisan politics. It emphasizes the legal opinion of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which asserts that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the Supreme Court permits civil servants to engage in partisan politics. The circular underscores that specific rules from the 2008 edition of the Public Service Rules remain in force and binding on all civil servants aspiring to participate in party nominations or primaries.
Furthermore, the circular advises civil servants to adhere strictly to these rules, clarifying that the Supreme Court’s judgment in INEC vs. Musa did not nullify these provisions, which must be followed by any civil servant seeking nomination or participation in party primary elections.
Based on this information, the group contends that Dr. Eze Aru failed to resign from his position as a Federal Civil Servant within the required timeframe, as he received his September salary from the institution (MOUAU). They are aware of attempts to backdate his resignation but argue that his September payslip invalidates such attempts.
Through its Secretary, Mr. Ikechukwu Okore, the Progressive Youths urged the Governor and the Labour Party to resist the current Mayor of Arochukwu LGA, Chief Joe Eze Aru’s efforts to install his younger brother, Dr. Okereke Eze Aru, arguing that neither is connected to the grassroots. They cautioned that the candidacy of an ‘Aspiring Mayor Lecturer’ could entangle the Labour Party in unnecessary legal troubles and jeopardize its performance in the upcoming and future elections.
The Progressive Youths for Good Governance announced their support for a legitimate Labour Party candidate to ensure that other parties, particularly the PDP, do not regain power in Arochukwu. They pledged to remain a vigilant advocate for the youth of the state and continue supporting Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s transformative efforts.
