INEC WITHDRAWS RECOGNITION OF ABURE AS LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN

INEC WITHDRAWS RECOGNITION OF ABURE AS LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially withdrawn recognition of Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party, declaring that his tenure expired in June 2024.

INEC made its position clear in a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, citing a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which dismissed Abure’s claims and nullified earlier rulings that upheld his leadership.

According to INEC’s Executive Officer (Litigation and Prosecution), Ayuba Mohammed, the Commission cannot issue access codes for uploading candidates’ nomination forms for the August 16 by-elections to the Abure-led LP, since the party currently has no valid National Chairman or Secretary recognized by law.

INEC also disowned the controversial Labour Party convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, where Abure claimed re-election. The Commission said it neither monitored nor recognised the gathering, stressing that it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s guidelines, and even the Labour Party’s own constitution.

This development appears to have drawn the curtain on months of leadership tussle within the party, leaving Abure’s camp effectively sidelined ahead of the crucial by-elections.