Abuja, 3 August 2025 – In a move that has deepened the rift within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invalidated the candidates submitted by the faction led by Julius Abure, effectively derecognising his leadership. The decision also affects all candidates from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the by-elections scheduled for 16 August and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections.
The exclusion, revealed in INEC’s final list of candidates, has elicited sharp reactions from both sides of the divided LP. Abure’s faction has condemned the action as unlawful and an overreach of authority, while the rival group under Senator Nenadi Usman has hailed it as a faithful implementation of a Supreme Court judgment delivered on 4 April 2025.
Sources close to the matter confirmed to THISDAY that none of the primaries conducted by Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC) were monitored by INEC officials, a mandatory step for validating party nominations. This follows INEC’s earlier stance that Abure’s tenure as national chairman expired in June 2023. Additionally, Abure’s faction was notably absent from INEC’s most recent quarterly meeting with political parties.
Obiora Ifoh, the national publicity secretary for Abure’s faction, described the commission’s decision as an abuse of power. “The party is aware of its rights as specified in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, regarding its powers to sponsor candidates in elections,” Ifoh told THISDAY. He emphasised that INEC lacks the authority to prevent the LP from fielding candidates or to selectively approve participation in polls.
Ifoh further argued that no Nigerian court, including the Supreme Court, has derecognised Abure’s leadership. “It is on record that the April 4, 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court ruled only on the lack of jurisdiction of the lower court and Court of Appeal,” he said. According to Ifoh, the apex court did not address the substantive issues of the party’s internal disputes, as such matters are beyond judicial purview and should be resolved through the LP’s constitutional mechanisms.
“We are by this statement asking INEC to enlist our duly nominated candidates for the August 16 by-election without further delay, and also refrain from interfering with the internal matters of the Labour Party,” Ifoh added. “INEC cannot arrogate to itself the powers of the courts or give different interpretations to a clear judgment of the apex court.”
In contrast, the Usman-led faction welcomed the development as a step towards restoring order. Ken Asogwa, senior special assistant on media to Senator Nenadi Usman, stated: “Though it’s unfortunate that the Labour Party’s candidates are missing on that list, it’s heartwarming to see that INEC is now beginning to give effect to the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 4, 2025, which affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the authentic chairman of the Labour Party.”
Asogwa urged INEC to go further by officially recognising Usman as the party’s valid leader. “Therefore, we urge the INEC as a responsible institution to take further steps by officially recognising Senator Usman as the valid chairman of the party,” he said.
Oluchi Opara, a former treasurer of the LP, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Supreme Court’s ruling had stripped Abure and his NWC of legitimate authority. “The exclusion of Abure’s candidates is a significant development for the Labour Party and Nigeria’s democratic process,” Opara explained. “It sends a clear message that INEC will not tolerate attempts to circumvent legal stipulations or undermine the credibility of elections.”
Opara commended INEC for upholding the rule of law and protecting electoral integrity. “The Labour Party leadership, now operating under recognized structures under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman. We commend INEC for its resolute action in this regard. This decision not only upholds the rule of law but also protects the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring that the will of the people is accurately represented,” she said.
She also called on Abure to cease his actions, warning that they could damage the party’s reputation. “We strongly urge Abure to desist from grandstanding and respect the legal and institutional frameworks governing the party and Nigeria’s electoral system. His persistence in acting outside his capacity threatens to erode the hard-earned trust and goodwill the Labour Party has built over the years,” Opara added.
The disqualification comes amid ongoing factional struggles within the LP, which have intensified since the Supreme Court’s April ruling. Analysts suggest this could reshape the political landscape ahead of the by-elections, potentially forcing affected parties to seek legal redress or realign their strategies.
