From Victor Osula Abuja
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to protest the exclusion of its candidates from the forthcoming bye-elections.
Accompanied by members of some civil society organisations, the protesters demanded the immediate inclusion of LP candidates in the nationwide polls.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “INEC, who is using you against LP,” “Mahmood, stop destroying democracy in Nigeria,” and “Tell INEC to obey court orders,” accusing the electoral body of meddling in the party’s internal affairs.
However, the party’s national leadership, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has distanced itself from the protest.
In a statement issued Tuesday by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to Usman, the leadership commended INEC for rejecting a list of candidates submitted by Abure and his group for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council elections.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party,” the statement read.
The party urged INEC to remain resolute and continue to ignore what it described as the “desperate antics” of individuals whose tenure expired on June 8, 2023, and whose exit was affirmed by the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on April 4, 2025.
“While we await INEC’s timely action in publishing the valid list of candidates submitted by the legitimate party leadership, we also call on the commission to give full effect to the Supreme Court ruling by updating its official portal and other platforms to reflect the correct leadership of the Labour Party,” the statement added.
It further disclaimed the protest, alleging it was organised by unknown individuals claiming to represent the party.
“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 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 regarded as an impostor.
“These individuals 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,” the statement said.
