The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that Julius Abure’s continued self-identification as the National Chairman of the Labour Party is both illegal and unconstitutional.
INEC clarified that it no longer acknowledges Abure or the other members of the party’s national working committee, as their tenures expired in June 2024. This was revealed in a counter-affidavit filed by INEC in response to a lawsuit from the Labour Party, challenging its exclusion from refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
According to INEC, the Labour Party’s leadership, including Abure, is now deemed invalid. The commission also rejected the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which attempted to re-elect Abure, claiming it violated the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act. INEC emphasized that it only recognizes parties with legitimate leadership structures.
INEC’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Tanko Inuwa, argued that the Labour Party’s suit, which seeks declaratory reliefs, cannot be granted solely based on admission. The party must provide sufficient evidence to support its claims.
The commission maintained that the Labour Party’s failure to follow legal procedures for its national convention left it without a valid leadership body. As a result, INEC urged the court to dismiss the party’s case, insisting that the Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs being sought.
