The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it no longer recognizes Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), declaring his continued claim to the position as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
According to INEC, Abure’s tenure, along with that of the party’s national working committee, officially expired in June 2024.
This position was revealed in a counter-affidavit INEC filed in response to a lawsuit by the Labour Party.
The party had sued INEC after being excluded from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
Read Also: “Labour Party’s 2027 Presidential Ticket Not Reserved For Peter Obi” Julius Abure Says
INEC defended its actions, arguing that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Abure, was invalid. It stated that the March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman, violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC emphasized that it only deals with parties that have legitimate leadership. Through its legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, INEC stressed that the Labour Party’s case could not be granted based on admissions alone and that the party must provide sufficient proof to support its claims.
Since the Labour Party had failed to meet the legal requirements for holding its national convention, INEC maintained that its leadership was no longer valid, urging the court to dismiss the suit.
In a related development, Julius Abure, during a press conference in Abuja, addressed allegations of mismanaging campaign funds, especially in connection with Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential bid.
Read Also: ‘Umuahia Rebellion’: Peter Obi and Otti’s Conflict with Abure Escalates
Abure denied having direct involvement in handling the campaign’s finances, asserting that Peter Obi managed the election funds himself.
He clarified that Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo were responsible for the accounts and the payment of polling unit agents.
Aisha Yesufu responded in a viral video, calling Abure “shameless” for claiming that agents were not paid.
She questioned the use of funds raised from ticket sales, accusing Abure of outdated practices and attempting to deceive the public, assuming that in this digital age, his actions would go unnoticed.
