The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that the Supreme Court has settled the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, ruling that the tenure of the National Executive Committee headed by Mr. Julius Abure had expired. The landmark judgment, delivered on April 4, 2025, stripped Abure of all authority to act as National Chairman.
INEC made the clarification on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following protests by Labour Party supporters at its Abuja headquarters over the alleged exclusion of the party’s candidates from the upcoming February 21 FCT Area Council Election. The commission stated it will not recognise or process any candidate lists submitted by the Abure-led faction.
According to INEC, the party’s internal disputes escalated when the Abure faction conducted nationwide primaries for the August 16, 2025 bye-elections, including in the FCT, despite the Supreme Court ruling. The Electoral Commission emphasised that these actions were invalid.
The Abure-led group had also 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, upholding both the Supreme Court ruling and INEC’s decision.
INEC noted that the faction later filed multiple suits across different courts—including the Nasarawa State High Court, Federal High Court Abuja, and two FCT High Court divisions—seeking orders to compel the Commission to issue access codes for uploading candidates. While an interim ex-parte order was granted on December 16, 2025, by the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, it expired seven days later and was not extended.
“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 said, adding that the matter remains sub judice.
INEC concluded by reiterating its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulations, stressing that political parties must respect democratic principles and the rule of law in managing internal affairs.
Labour Party Leadership Row: INEC Confirms Supreme Court Sacked Julius Abure-Led Exco
