The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly defended its refusal to grant the Labour Party access codes to upload candidates for the forthcoming 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, blaming the decision on what it described as unresolved leadership crises and serial court actions by the party.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, INEC explained that protests staged by Labour Party supporters at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, January 5, 2026, were premised on misinformation and ignored binding court judgments that currently constrain the Commission.
According to the statement signed by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC said the Labour Party has been embroiled in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024, a crisis that culminated in a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party).
“The Apex Court unequivocally held that the tenure of the Barrister Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired,” the Commission stated.
Mrs. Eta-Messi said that despite this clear ruling, the Abure-led faction went ahead to conduct primaries for the August 16, 2025 bye-elections nationwide and the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The Commission further recalled that the Abure faction had challenged INEC’s exclusion of the party from the bye-elections at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025. That suit, INEC noted, was dismissed on August 15, 2025, with the court affirming the Supreme Court’s position that Julius Abure was no longer the recognised National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Following that setback, INEC said the party embarked on what it described as multiple and overlapping litigations across different courts, all aimed at compelling the Commission to issue access codes for uploading candidates.
“These suits include Suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024 at the Nasarawa State High Court, Akwanga Division; Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which is still pending; and Suit No. CV/4792/2025 at the FCT High Court, Jabi Division,” INEC said.
INEC disclosed that while the Jabi Division suit was adjourned to January 15, 2026 for hearing, the Labour Party filed yet another action—Suit No. CV/4930/2025—before the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, seeking the same relief.
In that latter suit, the court granted an interim ex parte order on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload the names of Labour Party candidates. However, INEC stressed that the court expressly stated the order would lapse after seven days unless extended.
“The interim Order lapsed on 23rd December, 2025 and was not extended,” the Commission said. “Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon.”
The electoral umpire added that it promptly filed its defence in the matter, challenging both the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court.
Given that several cases remain pending, the Commission said it would not take any action capable of undermining the judicial process.
“The matter is sub judice, and INEC will continue to respect the sanctity of the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases,” the statement read.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its Regulations and Guidelines, stressing that political parties must be held accountable to democratic standards and the rule of law.
