The Labour Party has disassociated itself from a protest scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing 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 said it had no involvement in the planned demonstration and was not aware of those behind it.
“The attention of the Labour Party leadership has been drawn to an invitation circulating in some quarters about a purported protest set to be held at INEC headquarters on August 6, 2025,” the statement read.
“This protest is allegedly being organised by unknown individuals claiming to act under the banner of the Labour Party. We wish to state clearly that this protest is not authorised or endorsed by the party. The organisers are not recognised by the party’s leadership, and the action is without our consent.”
The party warned that anyone participating in or promoting the protest does so independently and should be regarded as acting under false pretences.
The statement also referenced INEC’s recent rejection of a list of candidates allegedly submitted by former party chairman Julius Abure and his faction in relation to the forthcoming national bye-elections and local council polls, describing the move as a welcome development.
It also noted that the decision was in line with the Supreme Court judgment of April 4, 2025, which affirmed that Abure’s tenure as chairman had expired on June 8, 2023.
“We received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral body, will proceed to accept and publish the authentic list presented by the party’s current, lawful leadership,” the statement added.
The party urged INEC to update its portal and official channels to reflect the court-recognised leadership and called on security agencies to act against those planning the protest.
“We urge INEC to remain resolute and ignore the desperate antics of individuals whose leadership expired and has been legally declared so. We also call on all security agencies to take note: those organising this protest are not representatives of the Labour Party.
“They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We demand their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.
