A faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure has staged a peaceful protest at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday over the alleged omission of the party’s candidates from the list of those cleared to contest in the forthcoming bye-elections across several constituencies.
The protest, which saw a sizeable number of LP members and supporters carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, was described by party officials as a stand against what they termed as “systematic disenfranchisement” and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Barrister Abure accused INEC of deliberately excluding duly nominated candidates of the Labour Party from the list of those eligible to contest in the bye-elections scheduled for later this month.
“We followed all the electoral guidelines, submitted our candidates before the deadline, and met all legal requirements.”
“INEC’s decision to omit our candidates without any justification is unjust, illegal, and amounts to political sabotage,” Abure declared.
He further alleged that some powerful political interests may be influencing the Commission to frustrate the chances of the Labour Party, especially in constituencies where it has strong grassroots support.
The protesting group submitted a formal petition to the Commission, demanding an immediate correction of the alleged omission and the re-listing of all validly nominated LP candidates.
While INEC officials acknowledged receipt of the petition, they have yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.
However, a senior INEC staff member who spoke on the condition of anonymity noted that “the Commission will look into the complaints and respond accordingly, following due process.”
The development comes amid growing political tension ahead of the bye-elections, which are being conducted to fill vacant seats in the National Assembly and some state Houses of Assembly.
Political analysts warn that failure to address the concerns raised by the LP could cast doubts on the credibility of the electoral process and dampen public trust in electoral institutions.
The Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership tussle with a rival group, leading to legal disputes and factional disagreements.
Despite this, Abure maintains that his leadership remains the authentic and recognized structure of the party and insists that INEC has no constitutional right to disenfranchise its candidates.
