The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that Barrister Julius Abure is no longer the recognised National Chairman of the Labour Party, insisting that the party remains barred from participating in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21.
INEC made this position known in a press statement on Wednesday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, following a protest by some supporters of the Labour Party at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
According to INEC, the protesters “complain[ed] about the exclusion of their candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election… and demanded for the issuance of access code to upload its candidates for the election.”
Responding to the protest, the Commission stated that the Labour Party “has been enmeshed in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024,” which culminated in a decisive judgment of the Supreme Court.
INEC cited the apex court’s ruling in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party) delivered on April 4, 2025, where it said the court “unequivocally held that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.”
Despite the clear pronouncement, INEC noted that “the Abure-led faction purportedly conducted primaries for the August 16, 2025 bye-election nationwide and the FCT Area Council Election,” actions the Commission said were inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s decision.
The electoral body further recalled that the Abure-led faction approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025 – Labour Party v. INEC, challenging its exclusion from the bye-election.
However, INEC stated that the judgment delivered on August 15, 2025, “dismiss[ed] the suit and enforce[d] the Supreme Court’s position that Barr. Julius Abure was no longer recognised as the National Chairman of the Labour Party and thus uphold[ing] the decision of INEC to exclude the Labour Party from the bye-election.”
According to the Commission, the Labour Party subsequently filed “multiple suits against INEC in different courts, all seeking Orders compelling INEC to grant an access code for the upload of its candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election.”
INEC listed some of the pending cases, including Suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024 before the Nasarawa State High Court, Akwanga Division, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, which it said “is still pending before the Court.”
The Commission also disclosed that the Labour Party approached the FCT High Court, Jabi Division, in Suit No. CV/4792/2025, where it sought an order compelling INEC to issue access codes. The matter, INEC said, “was adjourned… to 15th January 2026 for the hearing of the motion.”
INEC expressed concern that while the case was still pending, the party filed another fresh suit at the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, Suit No. CV/4930/2025, seeking the same relief.
“In this latest suit,” INEC said, “the FCT High Court sitting in Life Camp, Abuja granted an interim Order on 16th December, 2025, directing the Commission to upload the names and particulars of the Labour Party candidates for the FCT Area Council Election.”
However, the Commission clarified that the court “expressly stated that the Order would lapse after seven days unless extended.”
INEC explained that after being served, it “promptly filed its defence, challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the Court,” adding that “the interim Order consequently lapsed on 23rd December, 2025 and was not extended.”
“Accordingly,” the Commission stressed, “there is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon.”
INEC further stated that given that “the matter is sub judice,” it would “continue to respect the sanctity of the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases.”
The Commission reiterated its “unwavering commitment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as its Regulations and Guidelines,” adding that it would “continue to hold political parties accountable to democratic standards and the Rule of Law in the conduct of their internal affairs.”