Drama Unfolds! INEC Dumps Labour Party In By-Election List — Abure’s Men Cry Foul

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly excluded candidates from the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party from participating in the upcoming nationwide by-elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to The Guardian, INEC’s final list of nominated candidates for the by-elections did not include any names submitted by Abure’s camp. The commission justified its action by referencing the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025. That judgment confirmed that Abure ceased to be the Labour Party’s National Chairman as of June 8, 2023. INEC also stated that it did not monitor the faction’s primaries, which renders them invalid under the Electoral Act.

In response, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, condemned the move, describing it as illegal, shocking, and a clear abuse of power by INEC.

He asserted that the party is fully aware of its constitutional rights and the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended) regarding its authority to sponsor candidates in elections. Ifoh argued that INEC has no legal basis to bar the party from fielding candidates or to selectively approve which elections it can participate in.

According to the statement, “No Nigerian court—including the Supreme Court—has nullified the current leadership of the Labour Party. The April 4, 2025, judgment addressed only the jurisdiction of the lower courts and Court of Appeal, not the core issue. The Supreme Court made it clear that it lacks authority to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties and advised that such disputes be resolved internally, according to party constitutions.”

Ifoh emphasized that at no point did the Supreme Court grant INEC the power to intervene in the internal operations of political parties. He insisted that INEC is obligated to recognize candidates who meet the Electoral Act’s criteria.

The party, through the statement, called on INEC to immediately publish the names of its duly nominated candidates for the August 16 by-election and to desist from interfering in its internal affairs.

“INEC must not assume judicial powers or reinterpret a straightforward Supreme Court ruling. If this situation is not addressed, the Labour Party will challenge the decision in court. As a responsible organization, we will resist every attempt by INEC to undermine or intimidate us.

“The Labour Party, which has earned its reputation over the past 23 years as a party for the people, is not for sale. Any agency that allows itself to be used by politicians will be held accountable,” Ifoh warned.

He further noted that excluding the party from the election would lead to a colossal waste of public funds and undermines the electoral process.

Finally, the party urged its members and supporters to stay vigilant and hopeful for a day when Nigeria’s electoral system will function transparently and those responsible for malpractices will be held accountable. Labour Party candidates, it added, should remain calm as efforts continue to ensure their names are included for the August 16, 2025, by-election and future contests.