Amanze Chinonye
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations that it deliberately excluded Labour Party (LP) candidates from the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, insisting that no valid court order compels it to grant the party access codes to upload candidates.
The clarification followed a protest by Labour Party supporters at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, January 5, 2026. The protesters accused the Commission of undermining democracy by omitting LP candidates from the list of contestants for the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. They demanded the immediate issuance of access codes, which would enable the party to upload its candidates’ details.
During the protest, party officials in the FCT claimed that INEC was acting in defiance of a court order directing it to include Labour Party candidates in the polls. The Commission, however, dismissed the claim as misleading.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said the dispute is rooted in the Labour Party’s prolonged internal leadership crisis, which has persisted since 2024. The Commission cited a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party), which held that the tenure of the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.
Despite the ruling, INEC said the Abure-led faction proceeded to conduct primaries for the August 16, 2025 bye-elections and the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, actions the Commission said lacked legal backing.
INEC recalled that a suit filed by the Abure-led faction at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the party’s exclusion from the 2025 bye-elections was dismissed on August 15, 2025. The court, according to INEC, affirmed that Julius Abure was no longer the recognised national chairman of the Labour Party.
The Commission further disclosed that the party has since instituted multiple suits in different courts including the Nasarawa State High Court, the Federal High Court in Abuja, and two divisions of the FCT High Court all seeking orders compelling INEC to issue access codes for the upload of candidates for the FCT polls.
INEC said the most recent case, filed at the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, resulted in an interim ex parte order granted on December 16, 2025, directing the Commission to upload the party’s candidates. However, the court expressly limited the order to seven days.
“The interim order lapsed on December 23, 2025 and was not extended,” INEC stated, noting that it had already filed processes challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court. “There is presently no subsisting court order for INEC to act upon.”
The Commission stressed that the matter remains before the courts and is therefore sub judice, adding that it would continue to respect the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases.
INEC also reaffirmed its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulations and guidelines, insisting that political parties must resolve internal disputes in line with the rule of law before participating in elections.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
