The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, as they insisted that his tenure expired in June 2024.
In a counter-affidavit filed in response to the Labour Party’s lawsuit, INEC stated that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act .
The commission emphasized that it only engages with political parties having legitimate leadership in place.
The Labour Party has been entangled in a leadership tussle since June, with Abure’s tenure extension by the party’s congress in Anambra State being questioned by notable party members, including Peter Obi, Alex Otti, and Callistus Okafor, who held separate national congresses to address the impasse.
The Labour Party’s leadership crisis has worsened, which could affect its chances in the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.