- INEC Withdraws Recognition of Abure as Labour Party Chairman.
- Commission cites expired tenure, Supreme Court ruling, and invalid convention.
- Leadership crisis in LP may be settled, pending possible reactions
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially withdrawn recognition of Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party, citing the expiration of his tenure and compliance with a binding Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the decision, revealed in a sworn counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, marks a significant turning point in the party’s prolonged leadership crisis.
According to the affidavit deposed by Ayuba Mohammed, INEC’s Executive Officer for Litigation and Prosecution, Abure’s tenure ended in June 2024 in line with the apex court ruling in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025. That judgment dismissed Abure’s claims for lack of jurisdiction and nullified all prior court decisions that affirmed his leadership.
INEC stated it could not issue access codes for uploading candidates’ nomination forms for the August 16, 2025 by-elections to Abure’s faction because “there were no valid National Chairman and National Secretary for the Commission to deal with,” as stipulated in its official records.
The Commission also dismissed the legitimacy of the Labour Party’s controversial National Convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, where Abure claimed re-election. INEC said it neither monitored nor recognised the convention, arguing it violated the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, and the party’s own constitution.
This latest move appears to decisively resolve the internal battle over the Labour Party’s leadership, although further political and legal reactions are expected in the coming days.
