INEC explains exclusion of Labour Party candidates from FCT area council election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed claims by the Labour Party over its exclusion from the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, scheduled for Saturday, 21st February, 2026.

The clarification followed a protest on Monday, 5th January, 2026, when some Labour Party supporters gathered at INEC headquarters in Abuja demanding access codes to upload their candidates for the polls.

In a statement on Wednesday, INEC, through its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, stated that the commission’s position was informed by ongoing legal disputes within the Labour Party.

“The Labour Party has been enmeshed in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024, which culminated in the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 4th April 2025, holding that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired,” she said.

According to the commission, despite the Supreme Court ruling, the Abure-led faction went ahead to conduct primaries for the 16th August 2025 bye-elections nationwide, including the FCT Area Council Election.

INEC further recalled that the Federal High Court, Abuja, had dismissed the faction’s suit challenging the commission’s exclusion of the Labour Party from the bye-election, reaffirming the Supreme Court’s position that Barr. Abure was no longer recognized as the National Chairman.

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The statement noted that the Labour Party has since filed multiple suits in different courts seeking orders to compel INEC to issue access codes for its candidates.

Mrs. Eta-Messi said, “One would have expected the party to wait for the hearing of these motions, but they have continued to file fresh suits seeking the same relief.”

The most recent suit, filed at the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, resulted in an ex-parte interim order on 16th December, 2025, directing INEC to upload Labour Party candidates.

The order, she explained, “lapsed after seven days and was not extended, meaning there is presently no subsisting court order for INEC to act upon.”

The commission emphasized that, with the matter still sub judice, it will continue to respect the judicial process.

Mrs. Eta-Messi said INEC remains committed to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulations and guidelines, ensuring that political parties adhere to democratic standards and the rule of law in the conduct of their internal affairs.