The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn its recognition of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, citing the expiration of his tenure and the binding judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 4, 2025.

The Commission’s position, as contained in a sworn counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, appears to have finally settled the leadership crisis that has plagued the party for months.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, INEC clarified that Abure’s tenure ended in June 2024 in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, which dismissed his claims for lack of jurisdiction and nullified all earlier rulings that affirmed his leadership.

Ayuba Mohammed, INEC’s Executive Officer (Litigation and Prosecution), who deposed to the affidavit, stated, “The defendant (INEC) cannot accept and issue access codes for the upload of candidates’ nomination forms (EC9, EC9F, and EC9G) for the by-election scheduled for 16/8/2025 to the plaintiff (Abure-led LP), as there were no valid National Chairman and National Secretary for the defendant to deal with, as provided in Exhibit INEC 2.”

On the disputed National Convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, where Abure claimed re-election, INEC maintained it neither monitored nor recognised the event, insisting it contravened the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, its regulations, and the Labour Party’s constitution.