The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed claims that it failed to submit the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closed its nomination portal, describing the reports as false and deliberately misleading.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the LP insisted it complied fully with INEC’s nomination timetable, stressing that the names of its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates were successfully uploaded within the stipulated deadline.
According to the party, its presidential and vice-presidential candidates were uploaded on July 10, 2026—four days before INEC closed its nomination portal on July 14.
The party maintained that the nomination process was completed without any complications and in strict compliance with the electoral guidelines issued by the commission.
Reacting to the report, the LP accused the media platform of relying on an anonymous INEC source without verifying the information with the party, arguing that such reporting fell short of professional journalistic standards and risked misleading the public.
It said the allegations were capable of creating unnecessary uncertainty over its participation in the 2027 general election despite what it described as full compliance with the commission’s requirements.
The party expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved once INEC publishes the final list of validly nominated candidates, insisting the list would confirm that the Labour Party met every constitutional and electoral requirement.
Calling on its members and supporters to remain focused, the LP alleged that the reports formed part of a broader campaign to weaken the party’s growing political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
It further claimed that political opponents, unsettled by the party’s rising popularity, had resorted to spreading misinformation instead of engaging in constructive political debate.
Describing the publication as “idle beer parlour gossip masquerading as journalism,” the party insisted that the facts would ultimately expose what it termed a failed propaganda effort.
The Labour Party reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent electoral process and urged Nigerians to rely on INEC’s official publication of nominated candidates rather than unverified reports attributed to anonymous sources.
