From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
A High Court in Nasarawa State has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognize Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the legitimate leaders of the Labour Party.
This ruling comes ahead of the bye-election scheduled for August 16, 2025, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections.
The court’s interlocutory order, issued on July 23, 2025, mandates INEC to provide Abure and Ibrahim with the necessary access codes to upload the names and details of their nominated candidates for both the bye-elections and the FCT Area Council elections. Justice Mustapha A. Ramat’s ruling also prohibits INEC from recognizing any other individuals claiming to be Labour Party officers, apart from those who emerged from the convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 27, 2024.
In response to the court’s decision, Labour Party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, welcomed the ruling as a vital step in rectifying the injustices faced by the party’s authentic leadership.
He expressed gratitude for the court’s order and urged INEC to promptly publish the names of the Labour Party nominees for the bye-election and the FCT council elections.
However, Farouk raised concerns regarding the unequal opportunities and insufficient time for Labour Party candidates to campaign compared to other political parties.
He attributed this issue to a systemic effort by INEC to hinder the Labour Party’s participation in elections. For instance, in the Ondo State election, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate received access to the necessary codes only 24 hours before the election.
Despite these challenges, Farouk encouraged Labour Party candidates not to be discouraged. He emphasized that the Labour Party is a recognized name and that they expect to achieve victory in all contested offices.
Farouk also called on party members in the affected states to demonstrate their resilience and “never-say-die spirit” to support Labour Party candidates.
