Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) revokes the status of Julius Abure as the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn its recognition of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, following a Supreme Court ruling and subsequent INEC decisions.

The decision comes after the Supreme Court affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the authentic chairman of the Labour Party in a judgment on April 4, 2025. This ruling effectively nullifies Abure’s claim and leadership, and courts, as well as INEC, have consistently upheld this position and rejected Abure's legal challenges.

According to the electoral commission, Abure’s tenure expired on June 8, 2023. As a result, candidates from his faction have been invalidated in elections, and they have been disqualified from participating in the August 16, 2025 polls. The Labour Party led by Julius Abure will not be involved in the August 16 by-election, as confirmed by INEC.

The disputed National Convention held by the Labour Party on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi was neither monitored nor recognized by INEC. The case involving the Labour Party's leadership involves Exhibit INEC 2, which provides guidelines for dealing with the party.

The lack of a valid National Chairman and National Secretary for the Labour Party has also prevented INEC from accepting or issuing access codes for the upload of candidates' nomination forms. This development has led to factions within the Labour Party, with one faction blasting Peter Obi and Alex Otti after INEC withdrew recognition of Julius Abure.

It is important to note that the convention contravened the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, and the Labour Party's constitution. The case has been filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Julius Abure has insisted that he remains the Labour Party Chairman, blaming Usman for spreading 'false news'. However, his statement was made in a sworn counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which has persisted for months, appears to have been settled by INEC's position. The electoral commission has made it clear that Senator Nenadi Usman is the lawful party chairman, and all actions taken by the Labour Party under Abure's leadership are now considered invalid.

[1] Vanguard News, "INEC withdraws recognition of Julius Abure as Labour Party chairman", April 25, 2025. [2] Daily Trust, "Senator Nenadi Usman confirmed as Labour Party chairman", April 5, 2025. [3] The Guardian, "INEC disqualifies candidates from Labour Party", June 10, 2024. [4] The Nation, "INEC invalidates Labour Party primaries", July 15, 2024. [5] ThisDay, "Court dismisses Abure's claims, upholds Nenadi Usman as Labour Party chairman", April 5, 2025.

Following a Supreme Court ruling and INEC decisions, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revoked Julius Abure's recognition as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, confirming Senator Nenadi Usman as the authentic chairman.
The August 16, 2025 by-election will not involve the Labour Party led by Julius Abure, as confirmed by INEC, due to the invalidation of candidates from his faction.
Despite Julius Abure's assertions that he remains the Chairman, his claims have been dismissed in a ruling that also invalidated actions taken under his leadership, as they contravened the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, and the Labour Party's constitution.
The case of the Labour Party's disputed leadership has been filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The disputed National Convention held by the Labour Party in March 2024 was neither monitored nor recognized by INEC, leading to the lack of a valid National Chairman and National Secretary, preventing INEC from issuing access codes for the upload of candidates' nomination forms.
The lack of acknowledged leadership within the Labour Party has caused internal factions, with one faction accusing Peter Obi and Alex Otti of wrongdoing after the withdrawal of recognition of Julius Abure by INEC.

Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) revokes the status of Julius Abure as the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP)