The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it no longer recognizes Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), describing his continued claim to the position as illegal and unconstitutional.
This position was outlined in a counter-affidavit submitted by Ayuba Mohammed, an executive officer in INEC’s Litigation and Prosecution Department, in response to a legal suit filed by the Labour Party (Suit NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024).
The legal dispute arose after the Labour Party challenged its exclusion from INEC’s training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. According to INEC, Abure’s tenure officially ended on June 9, 2024, as confirmed by the Labour Party’s Board of Trustees Secretary, Salisu Mohammad.
Despite this, Abure has continued to claim the leadership of the party following a national convention held on March 27, 2024, in Anambra, where he was allegedly re-elected.
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However, INEC clarified that it did not monitor or recognize the convention, asserting that it violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The commission emphasized that it only engages with political parties that have lawful leadership in place, and it argued that the Labour Party failed to meet the necessary legal requirements for holding a valid national convention.
INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, further argued that the Labour Party’s leadership under Abure is not legitimate, rendering any claims to the position invalid.
The commission’s stance has significant implications for the party’s participation in future elections and its internal leadership structure, creating a critical moment for the Labour Party’s future trajectory.
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