Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as false the claims that it deliberately sidelined the Labour Party from the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, saying its actions are firmly rooted in existing court judgments and ongoing legal proceedings.
The clarification comes in the wake of a protest by Labour Party supporters at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, where demonstrators accused the Commission of refusing to issue access codes required for uploading the party’s candidates ahead of the February 21, 2026 polls.
In a statement by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, on Wednesday explained that the controversy is a direct fallout of unresolved leadership disputes within the Labour Party, which date back to 2024 and were addressed by the Supreme Court in April 2025.
According to the Commission, the apex court ruled that the tenure of the Barrister Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had elapsed, effectively stripping the faction of the authority to conduct primaries or submit candidates.
Despite the ruling, INEC said the same faction proceeded to organise primaries for the August 2025 bye-elections and the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections—an action the Commission declined to recognise.
The electoral body further disclosed that the Labour Party has since embarked on what it described as serial litigation, filing multiple suits in different courts in an attempt to compel INEC to issue access codes. These cases span the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Nasarawa State High Court, and two divisions of the FCT High Court.
INEC noted that although an interim ex parte order was granted by the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, in December 2025, directing it to upload Labour Party candidates, the order was explicitly time-bound and lapsed after seven days without renewal.
“There is currently no subsisting court order directing the Commission to upload any Labour Party candidates,” INEC stated, adding that all pending matters are still before competent courts.
The Commission stressed that the issues are sub judice and assured Nigerians that it would continue to respect the judicial process while refraining from actions that could prejudice ongoing cases.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulatory framework, warning that political parties must resolve internal disputes in line with democratic norms and the rule of law.
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