NASARAWA COURT ORDER ON LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATES SPARKS FRESH LEADERSHIP CLASH

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A fresh round of political tension has erupted in the Labour Party following a Nasarawa State High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the Julius Abure-led faction access to upload its list of candidates for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections and bye-elections.

The order, delivered by Justice Mustapha A. Ramat on July 23, 2025, in suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024, also accorded exclusive recognition to Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party.

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In a statement, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led faction, Obiora Ifoh, hailed the ruling as a “victory for democracy” and urged INEC to promptly publish the names of its candidates. He accused the electoral body of systematically denying the party equal opportunity to campaign.

“We are not happy that our candidates have been prevented from campaigning due to no fault of theirs. This has become a norm, and we will not take such treatment any longer,” Ifoh said, referencing similar incidents in previous elections. He called on party members to remain resilient, expressing confidence in securing electoral victories despite the setbacks.

However, the Senator Nenadi Usman-led interim national leadership of the Labour Party dismissed the court order as a product of “desperation and forum shopping.”

In a counter statement signed by her Senior Special Adviser (Media), Ken Asogwa, Usman described the order as “inconsequential” and “laughable,” questioning its timing and legal validity. She argued that the Federal High Court, not a state High Court, has exclusive jurisdiction over matters involving INEC.

Usman also alleged that Abure had a “notorious record” of forgery and manipulation, citing controversies from the 2023 Ebonyi State governorship election. She further noted that the Supreme Court had, in April 2025, removed Abure from office, accusing the ruling APC-led Federal Government of shielding him in contempt of court.

“Their unholy alliance serves one purpose alone: to undermine the Labour Party and erode our democratic institutions,” Usman said.

INEC is yet to formally respond to the court order or the political dispute.