The crisis in the Labour Party may have taken another destructive turn after the Julius Abure-led faction asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant it access to upload candidates’ credentials for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.
In a statement on Tuesday, Obiora Ifoh, factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, said Abure made the appeal during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of registered political parties in Abuja.
The meeting, chaired by May Agbamuche-Mbu, acting INEC chairperson, was her first major engagement with party officials since assuming office after Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure expired.
At the meeting, Agbamuche-Mbu reportedly assured the LP delegation that the commission would “look into the matter” and pledged to review the party’s request for access to its candidate upload portal.
Abure, who attended the meeting alongside Umar Farouk Ibrahim, LP’s national secretary, said the party had completed its primaries and followed due process in submitting candidates’ names to the commission.
“The party followed due process, issued notices to INEC, and conducted primaries, and the list is with the commission,” Ifoh quoted Abure as saying.
“We therefore urge INEC to release the code to us so that we can upload our candidates and join the ongoing campaign for the area council election.”
While congratulating Agbamuche-Mbu on her appointment, Abure said her legal background would enhance institutional integrity and strengthen the commission’s respect for the rule of law.
“Once lawyers are in the saddle of leadership, it reduces and sometimes ends impunity and injustice in the system,” he said.
“Once lawyers are in charge, institutions are built and democracy continues to grow.”
He also commended INEC for recognising his faction’s leadership in line with court rulings and expressed optimism that the new management would deliver a more credible electoral process.
Abure added that the commission’s adherence to the law would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and help prepare the ground for free and fair elections in 2027.
The meeting was attended by national chairmen and secretaries of the 18 registered political parties, alongside INEC national commissioners.
