The Nenadi Usman faction of the Labour Party (LP) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allowing Julius Abure, its rival factional chairman, to attend Tuesday’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.
The Senior Special Adviser on Media to Usman, Ken Asogwa, described Abure’s participation as “a brazen act of impersonation” and “a clear breach of court orders.”
Asogwa accused the electoral body of undermining judicial pronouncements, alleging “a disturbing pattern of complicity” within INEC.
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Supreme Court, on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, unanimously ruled that Julius Abure was no longer the national chairman of the Labour Party.”
He noted that the decision was reaffirmed by a Federal High Court ruling on August 15, 2025, which dismissed Abure’s bid to be recognised as chairman.
“It is even on record that INEC, in a counter-affidavit dated August 13, 2025, affirmed under oath that Abure was no longer chairman,” Asogwa added.
The faction argued that Abure’s recognition at the meeting amounted to defiance of valid court judgments.
“INEC cannot depose under oath that Abure is no longer chairman and then turn around to accord him recognition. Such conduct amounts to contempt of court and a grave desecration of the sanctity of our judicial system, particularly the pronouncements of the Supreme Court,” Asogwa said.
Recalling a similar episode, the Usman camp said Abure had been asked to leave INEC’s consultative meeting in July 2024 when Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was chairman.
“As far back as July 2024, INEC under Prof. Yakubu demonstrated respect for the rule of law by asking Abure to leave its meeting. It is shocking that a commission that once upheld the law now allows this kind of impunity,” Asogwa stated.
The faction urged INEC to immediately enforce all subsisting court orders on the Labour Party’s leadership dispute.
“While the current INEC leadership may be transitional, it must remember that even a short tenure leaves a long record. Posterity will judge every action taken today,” Asogwa added.