The Labour Party had filed the lawsuit challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it no longer recognises Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), deeming his continued claim to the position as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
In a counter-affidavit responding to a lawsuit filed by the Labour Party, INEC stated that Abure’s tenure, along with the party’s National Working Committee, officially expired in June 2024.
The Labour Party had filed the lawsuit challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
According to INEC, the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act. As a result, INEC asserts that the Labour Party no longer has valid leadership, and the commission only deals with parties that have “legitimate leadership in place.”
The commission, represented by its legal team led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the Labour Party’s suit, asserting that the party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking without proving its case.
INEC further argued that the LP had failed to meet the legal requirements for holding its national convention, rendering its leadership invalid.
In a press conference earlier, Abure denied allegations of embezzlement, refuting claims that his leadership contributed to the failure of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections.
Abure stated that he had no direct involvement in campaign funds, which he said were managed by Peter Obi himself, with signatories Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo responsible for agent payments.
In response, Aisha Yesufu, chairman of the campaign fundraising team, criticised Abure for claiming that polling unit agents were not paid. In a viral video posted on her YouTube account, Yesufu accused Abure of mismanaging party funds and engaging in outdated practices, calling him “shameless” for his statements.
INEC continues to maintain its stance that the Labour Party’s leadership is invalid until proven otherwise in court.
Join our Channel...