The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has barred all candidates of the Labour Party (LP) from participating in the upcoming August 16 bye-elections across the country, citing unresolved internal party crises.
The exclusion, which has sparked outrage among factions within the party, is reportedly linked to the leadership tussle that has divided the LP into rival camps.
As of press time, INEC has not issued an official explanation for its decision, and efforts to reach the Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, were unsuccessful.
Reacting to the development, the faction of the Labour Party loyal to Esther Nenadi Usman blamed the electoral commission for deliberately shutting them out of the electoral process.
Ken Asogwa, the media aide to the Usman-led faction, alleged that INEC denied the group access to its nomination portal, thereby preventing it from uploading its list of candidates.
Meanwhile, the camp loyal to Julius Abure, the embattled former National Chairman whose leadership was nullified by the Supreme Court in April, described the exclusion as “unconstitutional and a clear abuse of power.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Abure faction warned INEC against “cherry-picking” which elections the Labour Party can participate in, insisting that such an act violates the spirit of multiparty democracy.
“INEC has no constitutional authority to stop a political party from fielding candidates once it meets the requirements of the Electoral Act,” the statement said.
“We shall explore every legal means to challenge this illegality if INEC fails to reverse its action.”
The development marks a new low in the Labour Party’s deepening internal crisis, raising fears of the party’s weakening influence ahead of the crucial bye-elections.
Observers warn that the party risks alienating its support base if it fails to resolve its internal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC is yet to disclose whether the exclusion is temporary or final, even as stakeholders continue to mount pressure on the commission for clarification.
The August 16 bye-elections are being held to fill vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies following resignations, deaths, or nullifications. The absence of LP candidates means that the party will not be represented in any of the affected constituencies.
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