The Labour Party has publicly disassociated itself from a protest planned for Wednesday, August 6, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that those behind the event are not affiliated with the party.
In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party made clear it was not involved in the protest.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to be held on August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party. We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party,” the statement read partly.
The party further warned that any individual participating in or endorsing the protest does so without the party’s endorsement. “The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor,” it added.
The party also referenced INEC’s recent rejection of a candidate list allegedly submitted by former national chairman Julius Abure and his associates for the upcoming national bye-elections and local government polls. According to the party, the electoral commission dismissed the list as illegitimate, a decision welcomed by the current leadership.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party,” the statement added.
The Labour Party urged INEC to uphold a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which it said confirmed that Abure’s leadership term ended on June 8, 2023. “We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired since 8th June 2023, and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgement of April 4, 2025,” the party noted.
Additionally, the party called on INEC to release the valid list of candidates submitted by its recognised leadership and to update its official platforms to reflect the court-backed structure.
The Labour Party concluded by urging law enforcement agencies to intervene and take legal action against those organising the protest. “In light of the foregoing, we therefore call on all security agencies to take note: the persons planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on 6th August 2025 are not representatives of the Labour Party.
“They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement noted.
