The Labour Party (LP), led by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, has issued a strong condemnation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for omitting its candidates from the upcoming bye-elections scheduled for August 16, 2025.
In a statement released on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP described INEC’s action as “unlawful, shocking, and a blatant misuse of authority.”
The party announced its intention to challenge the move through legal means.
Citing constitutional and electoral provisions, the statement emphasized the party’s legitimate right to sponsor candidates in all elections.
It read in part: “The party is also aware that the INEC has no powers to either stop it from sponsoring candidates nor cherry-pick elections where it deems fit for our party to field candidates. It is on record that no court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court, has derecognised the present leadership of the Labour Party.”
The Labour Party also addressed the Supreme Court’s ruling from April 4, 2025, clarifying that it focused on jurisdiction rather than the core issue.
‘It is also a fact that the April 4, 2025, judgement of the Supreme Court ruled only on the lack of jurisdiction of the lower court and the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court did not rule on the substantive matter, as courts, including the Supreme Court, are barred from entertaining cases on the internal matters of any political party.’
“he Supreme Court, in its wisdom, ruled that parties should resolve their problems within the available mechanism as provided by their constitutions. At no point did the Supreme Court empower INEC to interfere with the internal matters of the political party. INEC, being a regulatory body, must limit itself to the provisions of the laws that instituted it.”
The party warned INEC against overreaching its mandate.
“INEC cannot stop political parties from fielding candidates in an election, provided the political parties abide by the requirements of the Electoral Acts.”
“We are by this statement asking INEC to enlist our duly nominated candidates for the August 16 bye-election without further delay, and also refrain from interfering with the internal matters of the Labour Party.”
LP further stressed that interpreting court rulings was outside INEC’s remit.
“The statement further stated that INEC cannot arrogate to itself the powers of the courts or give a different interpretation to a clear judgement of the apex court”.
It vowed to contest the exclusion if not corrected, warning of legal consequences.
” The actions of the INEC, if not redressed immediately, will be challenged. The Labour Party, as a responsible organisation, will do everything within the law to ensure that all efforts by INEC to intimidate, harass, and ridicule the Labour Party will be resisted.”
LP reiterated its commitment to the Nigerian electorate.
‘Labour Party has built a reputation in the last 23 years as a party for the masses, and we will not succumb to the renewed onslaught by some politicians using every available means to stultify our party’s progress. The Labour Party is not for sale, and any institution or commission making itself available to be used by politicians will have itself to blame.’
The party warned of the broader implications of excluding it from the elections.
‘We warn that it will be a waste of resources and precious time should INEC go ahead with the bye-election without the Labour Party on the ballot. It will indeed be catastrophic, and a colossal loss of scarce monetary resources should INEC have its way.’
Finally, the statement called for calm among supporters and urged vigilance.
‘We are also calling on Nigerians, particularly Labour Party members, to remain vigilant and to keep praying for the nation that someday, the electoral process in Nigeria will be gotten right and that some persons will be made to take responsibility for their actions and inactions while in office.”
“We are also calling on all our candidates to remain calm, as the party will do everything possible to ensure their names are uploaded for the August 16, 2025, bye-election and every other election in the future”, Abure assured.
