INEC EXPLAINS DECISION TO WITHHOLD LABOUR PARTY ACCESS CODES AHEAD OF FCT AREA COUNCIL POLL
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified its decision to withhold access codes from the Labour Party for the upload of candidates ahead of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election.
INEC attributed the decision to the party’s lingering leadership crisis and multiple ongoing court cases, stressing that the matter remains sub judice.
The explanation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Ewa-Messi.
Earlier in the week, dozens of Labour Party supporters staged a protest at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja, accusing the Commission of deliberately excluding the party from the forthcoming Area Council elections. The protesters demanded the immediate release of access credentials required to upload candidate names to INEC’s portal.
Responding to the protest, INEC stated that it is constrained by law due to pending litigations concerning the party’s leadership and internal structure.
“The Commission is aware of several pending litigations and rulings surrounding the Labour Party’s leadership and the conduct of primaries. Until these legal issues are resolved, INEC is constrained to maintain its current position,” the statement said.
INEC recalled that the Labour Party’s internal dispute culminated in a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which held that the tenure of the National Executive Committee led by Julius Abure had expired.
According to the Commission, despite the apex court’s pronouncement, the Abure-led faction went ahead to conduct primaries for the August 16, 2025, bye-election and the FCT Area Council election.
INEC further acknowledged that a High Court in Abuja granted an interim ex parte order on December 16, 2025, directing the Commission to upload the Labour Party’s candidates. However, the Commission noted that the order expired after seven days and was not renewed.
“The interim order consequently lapsed on December 23, 2025, and was not extended. Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting court order for INEC to act upon,” Mrs. Ewa-Messi said.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, stating that it would not take further action until all legal disputes surrounding the Labour Party’s leadership and candidate selection process are conclusively resolved.
“The Commission will continue to respect the judicial process and await final decisions before taking any action on the matter,” the statement concluded.
