INEC explains refusal to issue access code to Labour Party candidates for FCT polls

INEC explains refusal to issue access code to Labour Party candidates for FCT polls

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained its decision not to issue access codes to the Labour Party for the upload of candidates for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, citing unresolved leadership disputes within the party and ongoing court cases.

INEC gave the clarification in a statement signed on Wednesday by its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, following a protest by some supporters of the Labour Party at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, January 5, 2026.

The protesters had accused INEC of excluding Labour Party candidates from the FCT Area Council election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, and demanded the issuance of access codes to enable the party upload its candidates.

Responding, the Commission said the Labour Party has been enmeshed in protracted internal leadership crises since 2024, which culminated in a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party).

According to INEC, the apex court unequivocally held that the tenure of the Barrister Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired, adding that despite the ruling, the Abure-led faction went ahead to conduct primaries for the August 16, 2025 bye-elections nationwide, including the FCT Area Council election.

The Commission recalled that the Abure-led faction had challenged INEC’s decision to exclude it from the bye-elections in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025; Labour Party v. INEC at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Judgment in the matter, delivered on August 15, 2025, dismissed the suit and affirmed that Julius Abure was no longer recognised as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

INEC said the court’s decision upheld its action excluding the party from the bye-elections.

The Commission further disclosed that the Labour Party subsequently instituted multiple suits in different courts seeking orders compelling INEC to issue access codes for the upload of its candidates for the FCT Area Council election.

These include Suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024 at the Nasarawa State High Court, Akwanga Division, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which is still pending.

INEC said the party also approached the FCT High Court, Jabi Division, in Suit No. CV/4792/2025, where a motion seeking the same relief was adjourned to January 15, 2026, after the Commission filed its response.

Despite the pending motion, the Labour Party, according to INEC, filed another suit at the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, in Suit No. CV/4930/2025, again seeking an order compelling the Commission to issue access codes.

The Commission explained that an interim ex parte order was granted in the Life Camp suit on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload the names and particulars of Labour Party candidates. However, the court expressly stated that the order would lapse after seven days unless extended.

INEC said it promptly filed its defence challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court, noting that the interim order lapsed on December 23, 2025, and was not extended.

“Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting court order for INEC to act upon,” the statement said.

The Commission stressed that since the matter is still before the courts, it would continue to respect the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases.

INEC reiterated its commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, as well as its regulations and guidelines, adding that political parties would continue to be held accountable to democratic standards and the rule of law in the conduct of their internal affairs.