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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that the Supreme Court has conclusively resolved the leadership crisis within the Labour Party, declaring that the tenure of the National Executive Committee led by Mr. Julius Abure has expired and that he no longer has the authority to act as National Chairman.
INEC made the clarification on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in response to protests by Labour Party supporters at its headquarters in Abuja over the alleged exclusion of the party’s candidates from the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. The commission stressed that it would not recognise or process any list of candidates submitted by the Abure-led faction.
The electoral body explained that the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, stripped Abure of all powers, rendering any actions taken by his faction thereafter invalid. Despite this ruling, INEC noted that the Abure group went ahead to conduct nationwide primaries for the August 16, 2025 by-elections, including those in the FCT, a move the commission described as unlawful.
According to INEC, the faction challenged its exclusion at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025, but the court dismissed the case on August 15, 2025, affirming both the Supreme Court judgment and INEC’s position.
The commission further revealed that the Abure-led group subsequently instituted multiple suits at various courts, including the Nasarawa State High Court, the Federal High Court in Abuja, and two divisions of the FCT High Court, seeking orders compelling INEC to issue access codes for the upload of candidates.
INEC disclosed that although an interim ex-parte order was granted on December 16, 2025, by the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, the order lapsed after seven days and was not renewed.
“As of now, there is no valid court order compelling INEC to issue access codes or upload candidates for the Labour Party in the FCT Area Council Election,” the commission stated, adding that the matter remains sub judice.
INEC concluded by reaffirming its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulations, urging political parties to uphold democratic norms, internal discipline and the rule of law in the conduct of their affairs.