“Abure’s tenure as Labour Party national chairman expired in June 2024” – INEC insists

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that Julius Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party expired in June 2024.

This was made known in a counter affidavit filed in response to the Labour Party’s suit challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.

INEC emphasized that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Abure, is no longer valid, and the Commission did not recognize the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which claimed to re-elect Abure as chairman.

INEC maintained that the convention violated the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act, further stating that it only engages with parties that have valid and subsisting leadership.

In a written address in support of the counter affidavit, INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, argued that the Labour Party’s suit is seeking declaratory reliefs, which cannot be granted as a matter of course or based on mere admissions.

They contended that the Labour Party must succeed on the strength of its case, even in the face of admissions.

The Commission’s lawyers further submitted that having failed to comply with the extant legal frameworks in conducting its national convention; the Labour Party does not have a valid leadership that INEC can engage.

They urged the court to dismiss the suit, insisting that the Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs sought.