By Caleb Ishaya
Nenadi Usman faction of Labour Party, LP, has accused the National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure of alleged forgery of a Nasarawa State High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to upload the list of its candidates for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, council elections.
A High Court of Nasarawa State had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accord recognition to Abure (National Chairman) and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim (National Secretary) as the authentic leadership of Labour Party.
The court, presided over by Justice Mustapha Ramat had on July 23, in suit no NSD/LF.84/2024, in an interlocutory order, directed INEC to also grant access code to Julius Abure and Alhaji Ibrahim to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye – elections and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as scheduled by the INEC.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh yesterday, the party accused INEC of refusing to publish the names of the nominated candidates by the party in a bye-election scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 16 (today), as well as the FCT council elections scheduled for early 2026 despite the court order.
Ifoh alauded the intervention of the court, describing it as a welcome development and an order which will right the many wrongs meted out to the authentic leadership of the party.
He said, “We received this intervention with a heart full of gratitude. We are however hoping that INEC as a law abiding institution, will do the needful by formally publishing the names of our nominees for the bye election and the FCT council elections without further delay.
“We are, however, not happy that our candidates have not been given equal opportunity and time to campaign like other political parties. As it stands now, our candidates, due to reasons not of theirs, were prevented from campaigning. This is clearly a systemic route orchestrated by INEC to perpetually prevent Labour Party and their candidates from favourably participating in elections. Recall that in Ondo State, INEC granted Labour Party’s governorship candidate access code barely 24 hours to the election. This has become a norm and we will not take such treatment any longer.
“Finally, we urge our candidates not to be undaunted or dismayed by these glaring limitations. Labour Party is a household name. We expect nothing but victory in all these contested offices. We also call on members of the party in the affected states to once more show their indomitable and ‘never die spirit’ to return our candidates.”
In a swift reaction to the development via a statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to Nenadi Usman, Ken Asogwa, said, “The timing of this so-called court order’s release to the public is as suspicious as it is mischievous, coming on the eve of nationwide bye-elections.”
The statement is coming less than 12 hours after the Abure-led group presented a court order asking INEC to upload the names of their candidates for the affected council poll.
According to the statement, the order refers to elections slated for February next year.
The statement said, “Given Abure’s notorious record in matters of forgery, this development, if true, would come as no surprise.
“The leadership of Labour Party is appalled by reports circulating in certain sections of the media alleging that a Nasarawa State High Court granted an interlocutory order – purportedly at the instance of Abure and his faction – directing INEC to upload their candidates’ names for the forthcoming FCT Council elections.
“The timing of this so-called court order’s release to the public is as suspicious as it is mischievous, coming on the eve of nationwide bye-elections.
“Even more telling is the fact that the purported order – laughable as it is – specifically refers to elections slated for February next year.
“Given Abure’s notorious record in matters of forgery, this development, if true, would come as no surprise.
“Nigerians will recall his criminal manipulation during the 2023 Ebonyi State governorship election, an act for which the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, has implicitly directed his prosecution by the police – a charge that still hangs over him like the proverbial sword of Damocles.
“Even if, in the unlikely event, this inconsequential order was genuinely obtained, Abure’s decision to engage in blatant forum shopping – running to a Nasarawa State High Court in a matter over which the Federal High Court has exclusive constitutional jurisdiction – underscores the depth of his legal and moral bankruptcy.
“Since INEC is a federal institution established by the constitution, the High Court of Nasarawa State has no lawful standing in this matter. Such abuse of judicial process ought to attract a stern reprimand from the court against the forum shoppers.
“Meanwhile, Nigerians are not oblivious to the fact that the Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – on April 4, unequivocally removed Abure from office in a landmark judgment.
“Yet, he and his accomplices have been shamelessly sustained and emboldened by the APC-led federal government, enabling them to persist in contempt of court and reckless abuse of judicial processes.
“Their unholy alliance serves one purpose alone: to undermine the Labour Party and erode our democratic institutions. In their desperation for transient political advantage, they are even willing to diminish the authority of the Supreme Court itself.”
