Labour Party Petitions Police, DSS Over Abure’s Nomination Forms Sale

The Labour Party (LP) has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) over what it described as the illegal circulation of nomination forms linked to former national chairman Julius Abure.

LP national chairman Senator Nenadi Usman disclosed this in Abuja yesterday after the party’s screening exercise, saying the distribution was misleading aspirants and undermining the party’s structure.

“The names currently on the INEC website are those elected at the convention in Umuahia.

“The party has since petitioned the inspector-general of police and the Department of State Services over the circulation of unauthorised nomination forms. INEC was also copied,” she said.

Usman said the Supreme Court had affirmed that Abure’s tenure had expired and that a new leadership emerged at the party’s national convention in Umuahia, with INEC in attendance.

She described Abure’s distribution of free forms as illegal and a violation of the party’s internal processes.

She warned aspirants and supporters not to fall for fake forms, recounting an incident in which a man showed her a form his wife had bought that was not issued by the recognised party leadership.

“We started on Monday, and I’m happy that it has been a wonderful exercise. The interest shown by aspirants across the country proves that the party remains formidable ahead of future elections. The party remains strong despite the dispute,” she added.

The chairman expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold its earlier position on the leadership matter. She also confirmed that three aspirants had purchased forms for the presidential ticket and that the party had agreed that its next candidate should come from Southern Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the party has rescheduled all its 2027 primaries to Saturday, 30 May 2026.

The National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, said the adjustment was necessary because the earlier dates clashed with the 2026 Eid el-Kabir celebration on 27 May and the third anniversary of the inauguration of elected public office holders on 29 May.

Abia State leaders at the screening also backed the party’s direction.

Similarly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, speaking after his screening, said the state was prepared to sweep all elections in 2027, crediting Governor Alex Otti’s performance.

Aba South Federal Constituency aspirant and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Alex Ikwechegh, and Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT/Judiciary, defended the party’s use of consensus arrangements to maintain unity and avoid the rancour seen in other parties.

The party said the petitions to security agencies were aimed at stopping the unauthorised sale of forms and protecting aspirants from being defrauded.