The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially withdrawn recognition of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), citing the binding judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 4, 2025.
INEC stated this in a sworn counter affidavit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, bringing to an end the lingering leadership crisis in the party.
In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, INEC clarified that Abure’s tenure ended in June 2024, in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, which dismissed Abure’s claims for lack of jurisdiction and nullified all earlier rulings that affirmed his leadership.
The counter affidavit, deposed to by Ayuba Mohammed, INEC’s Executive Officer (Litigation and Prosecution), stated: “The defendant (INEC) cannot accept and issue access codes for the upload of candidates’ nomination forms (EC9, EC9F, and EC9G) for the by-election scheduled for 16/8/2025 to the plaintiff (Abure-led LP), as there were no valid National Chairman and National Secretary for the defendant to deal with, as provided in Exhibit INEC 2.”
On the contentious National Convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, INEC maintained it did not monitor or recognize the event, noting that it contravened the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s regulations, and the Labour Party’s constitution. Abure had claimed he was re-elected at the event.
Despite the supreme court decision, Mr. Abure declared that he remained LP chairman and had paraded himself as such.
Reacting to INEC’s clarification, the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, welcomed the court’s judgment and INEC’s clarity on the matter.
“I received with profound relief and deep satisfaction the news of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which dismissed in its entirety the case instituted by Mr. Julius Abure against INEC,” she said in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
She described the ruling as a strong affirmation of the rule of law and commended INEC for the clarity and institutional integrity demonstrated in its sworn affidavit.
“INEC categorically confirmed that the tenure of Mr. Abure and the entire National Executive Committee expired in June 2024. The Commission also affirmed it did not recognize the purported Nnewi convention of March 27, 2024.”
Usman urged all Labour Party members to put the crisis behind them and focus on rebuilding the party.
“With this judgment and INEC’s clear position, it is time for all members to recommit to the urgent task of repositioning our party into the credible, disciplined, and people-centred movement that Nigerians deserve.”
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