An Abuja High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) access codes to upload candidates ahead of the August 16, 2025, bye-election and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election.
The court also directed INEC to accord exclusive recognition to Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the authentic leadership of the party.
According to Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary of the LP, the order was issued by Justice Mustapha A. Ramat of the Nasarawa state division in an interlocutory ruling delivered on July 23, 2025, in suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024. The court directed INEC to grant access codes to Abure and Ibrahim to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye-elections and FCT council polls.
INEC had earlier failed to publish the names of LP’s nominated candidates for the bye-election scheduled for Saturday and the FCT council elections fixed for early 2026. The development led to peaceful protests by party leaders and stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
“An Order directing the Defendant, INEC, to accord exclusive recognition to only officers of Labour Party, including the 2nd and 3rd Plaintiffs Julius Abure, and Umar Farouk Ibrahim, as the National Chairman and National Secretary, who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27th day of March, 2024 as the authentic officers of the 1st Plaintiff, Labour Party, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit,”The interlocutory injunction partly read.
“An Order of Interim Injunction, restraining the Defendant from dealing in any way or manner or otherwise according any recognition whatsoever to any person(s) claiming to be officers of the 1st Plaintiff, except the officers who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27th day of March, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
“An interlocutory order, directing the Defendant to grant access code to the Plaintiffs to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye elections of FCT Area Council Elections scheduled by the Defendant, amongst other orders.”
The court further ruled: “The application/reliefs sought as herein contained are hereby granted as prayed, and the case is accordingly adjourned to 22nd September, 2025, for the hearing of the main case.”
Reacting, Ifoh welcomed the ruling, describing it as an order that would correct the injustices faced by the authentic leadership of the party.
“We received this intervention with a heart full of gratitude. We, however, hope that INEC, as a law-abiding institution, will do the needful by formally publishing the names of our nominees for the bye-election and the FCT council elections without further delay.
“We are not happy that our candidates have not been given equal opportunity and time to campaign like other political parties. As it stands, our candidates, due to reasons not of theirs, were prevented from campaigning.
“This is a clear systemic route, orchestrated by INEC to perpetually prevent the Labour Party and their candidates from favourably participating in elections. Recall that in Ondo State, INEC granted LP’s governorship candidate access to the code barely 24 hours before the election. This has become a norm, and we will not take such treatment any longer.
“We urge our candidates not to be undaunted or dismayed by these glaring limitations. Our party is a household name. We expect nothing but victory in all these contested offices.
“We also call on members of the party in the affected states to once more show their indomitable and ‘never die spirit’ to return our candidates,” he said.
