INEC: Fasehun’s UPN convention unconstitutional

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has voided the Friday, January 9 convention held by the Dr. Frederick Fasehun faction of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) which adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the preferred candidate of the party in the February 14 election.
UPN has been engulfed in crisis with the National Executive Committee (NEC) 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 Jonathan.
In a letter, however, INEC ruled that the Lagos convention should not go ahead.
The letter was signed by Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, secretary of the commission.
It said the convention could only be organised with the approval of the party’s NEC and added that this was not complied with in respect of that held in Lagos.
The letter entitled ‘Re: Notice for National Convention’ reads that ” 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.”