The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it cannot issue access codes to the Labour Party for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election due to unresolved leadership disputes and ongoing court cases. The Commission makes this clarification following a protest by some Labour Party supporters at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
INEC explains that the Labour Party has been in a prolonged internal crisis since 2024, which was settled by the Supreme Court in April 2025, Mediaplusng.com reports. The apex court ruled that the tenure of the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired, meaning the faction no longer has the legal authority to act for the party, including conducting primaries.
Despite the Supreme Court judgment, the Abure-led faction went ahead to organise primaries for elections, including the FCT Area Council poll scheduled for February 21, 2026. INEC says this action led to the exclusion of the party, a decision later upheld by the Federal High Court in August 2025 when it dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party challenging its exclusion.
The electoral body further notes that the Labour Party has since filed multiple cases in different courts, all seeking to compel INEC to issue access codes to upload its candidates, Mediaplusng.com reports. These cases are currently pending before courts in Abuja, Nasarawa State, and the FCT, making the matter sub judice.
INEC reveals that in one of the cases, an interim court order was granted in December 2025, directing the Commission to upload the party’s candidates. However, the court clearly stated that the order would expire after seven days unless renewed. INEC says the order lapsed on December 23, 2025, and was not extended, leaving no valid court directive for the Commission to act upon.
According to INEC, the Commission has already filed its responses in court, challenging the competence of the suits and the jurisdiction of some of the courts involved. It insists that it cannot act outside the law or rely on expired court orders to include candidates in the election process.
INEC reassures the public that it remains committed to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its guidelines. The Commission says it will continue to respect the rule of law and await the final decisions of the courts before taking any further steps on the matter.
