The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that it is illegal and unconstitutional for Julius Abure to continue identifying himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
According to INEC, it no longer recognises Abure or other members of the party’s national working committee, as their tenures expired in June 2024.
This stance was outlined in a counter-affidavit INEC filed in response to a suit brought by the Labour Party challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
INEC argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Abure, is now invalid and that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which purported to re-elect Abure as chairman. INEC maintained that the convention violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, emphasizing that it only deals with parties that have legitimate leadership in place.
In a written submission supporting the counter affidavit, INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, stated that the Labour Party’s suit seeks declaratory reliefs, which cannot be granted merely by admission. They argued that the Labour Party must prove its case, even with the admissions presented.
INEC’s lawyers further asserted that, due to the Labour Party’s failure to adhere to the legal requirements in holding its national convention, the party no longer has a valid leadership with which INEC can engage.
They urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking.