The Labour Party’s leadership crisis took a fresh twist on Tuesday after the faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “aiding impersonation” by recognising Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman at a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Interim National Chairman, the faction condemned Abure’s appearance at the quarterly meeting between INEC and leaders of registered political parties, describing it as “a brazen act of impersonation” and “a tragic reflection of how far certain elements within INEC are willing to go in defying court judgments.”
The statement read in part, “While this brazen act of impersonation may appear comical to some, it is, in truth, a tragic reflection of the extent to which certain elements within INEC are willing to compromise the integrity of the Commission by lending themselves to such ignoble conduct — in utter defiance of valid and subsisting court judgments, including that of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
The faction cited the Supreme Court judgement of April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025), which it said “unequivocally declared that Barr. Julius Abure was no longer the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
The statement further referenced a subsequent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on August 15, 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025), which “expressly rejected Abure’s prayers” and reaffirmed the apex court’s position.
According to the group, INEC itself had deposed to a counter affidavit dated August 13, 2025, affirming under oath that Abure was no longer recognised as the Labour Party’s chairman.
“INEC cannot, in one breath, depose under oath that Abure is no longer chairman, and in another, accord him recognition. Such conduct amounts to contempt of court and a grave desecration of the sanctity of our judicial system,” the statement added.
Asogwa recalled that even under the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Commission had demonstrated “better respect for the rule of law” when, on July 29, 2024, Abure was reportedly ordered out of a similar consultative meeting “on the clear grounds that he was no longer the National Chairman.”
“The question, therefore, is: from where did the present actors within INEC derive the authority to override and overrule these court pronouncements and enable Abure’s participation in today’s meeting? This reckless display of impunity is unacceptable and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians,” he queried.
The Labour Party faction warned the “transitional” INEC leadership to tread cautiously, saying “even a brief tenure can leave a lasting stain on history.” It urged the Commission to immediately enforce the valid court judgments on the party’s leadership crisis.
“If the current leadership lacks the courage to uphold the rule of law, it should at least refrain from further tarnishing what remains of the Commission’s credibility before its eventual exit,” the statement concluded.
LEADERSHIP reports that the appearance of Abure and factional National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, at the INEC stakeholder meeting earlier in the day had reignited internal tensions within the Labour Party. Their attendance was publicised by Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led faction, who described them as the “legitimate representatives” of the party.
