The Labour Party has distanced itself from a planned protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled for Wednesday, labelling the organisers as “impostors” and “political impersonators.”
In a statement signed by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party made it clear it had no involvement in the proposed demonstration.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to be held on August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party. We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party,” the statement read partly.
The statement cautioned that anyone taking part in or promoting the protest is acting without the Labour Party’s approval and should be considered an “impostor.”
“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor,” it added.
The party also cited the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent rejection of a list of candidates allegedly submitted by former chairman Julius Abure and his faction for the upcoming national bye-elections and local government polls.
The Labour Party has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently rejected an unauthorised list of candidates for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council polls submitted by former chairman Julius Abure and his faction.
“We welcomed that decision, confident that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually recognise and publish the authentic list submitted by the party’s current and legitimate leadership,” the party said.
The statement urged INEC to remain resolute and act in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling delivered on April 4, 2025, which confirmed that Abure’s tenure expired on June 8, 2023.
“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to ignore the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenure expired over a year ago, as affirmed by the Supreme Court,” it added.
The party further called on INEC to publish the valid list submitted by its recognised leadership and to update its official platforms to reflect the court-backed structure.
Additionally, the Labour Party urged security agencies to take action against those planning the protest at INEC’s headquarters.
“In light of the foregoing, we call on all security agencies to take note: those planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on August 6, 2025, are not representatives of the Labour Party. They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement read.