Former National Treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Oparah, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for disqualifying candidates submitted by the Julius Abure-led faction from participating in the forthcoming August 16 bye-elections.
She described the electoral body’s action as one that “restored sanity and respect for the rule of law.”
In its final list of nominated candidates for the elections, INEC excluded all names submitted by Abure’s group, citing the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court ruling.
The commission said the judgment affirmed that Abure ceased to be the party’s National Chairman as of June 8, 2023, and that INEC did not monitor the primaries conducted under his leadership, rendering them invalid under the Electoral Act.
Oparah, known for her role in exposing alleged financial mismanagement during Abure’s tenure, hailed the development as a significant step forward for accountability and internal party democracy.
“INEC has finally done the right thing. Abure’s leadership expired last year. Any action taken by him since then, including organising primaries, is null and void. This is what the Supreme Court reinforced, and INEC is simply enforcing the law,” she said in a statement.
She further urged the public and party members to disregard narratives suggesting that the Labour Party was being unfairly targeted.
“Ignore any misleading narrative that suggests the Labour Party is being sidelined,” she stated. “It is the illegal faction that is being rightfully shut out.”
However, the Abure-led faction quickly issued a strong response, condemning INEC’s decision and labeling it an unconstitutional overreach into party affairs.
Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the Abure faction, argued that INEC had overstepped its legal mandate by interpreting a Supreme Court judgment and determining the legitimacy of a political party’s leadership.
“INEC is not a court of law. Its job is to conduct elections, not to act as a judge over political parties’ internal matters. The Supreme Court never ruled against Abure’s authority to lead the party,” Ifoh said in a statement.
He maintained that the Labour Party remains legally recognized and retains full rights to nominate candidates for elections. He also threatened legal action against INEC.
“INEC’s action is provocative and unacceptable. It will be challenged. No election should go on without Labour Party on the ballot,” he added.
Although INEC has yet to issue an official public statement, insiders at the commission confirmed that the decision was based on the legal guidance of the Supreme Court ruling and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
“No primaries were monitored under Mr. Abure. His tenure ended in June 2023. That’s the position of the law, and INEC cannot overlook that,” a senior INEC official said.
