Labour Party Crisis: Abure Faction Insists on Legitimacy as INEC Declares Tenure Expired
By IDNN Politics Desk
The Labour Party is once again engulfed in internal crisis following conflicting claims over the tenure of its National Chairman, Julius Abure.
In a counter-affidavit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) argued that Abure’s tenure had lapsed and that his faction lacked the authority to field candidates in last weekend’s by-elections. INEC stated that it did not monitor the convention Abure claimed revalidated his leadership in March 2024, insisting that the process contravened the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
Abure’s faction, however, dismissed INEC’s position as “false propaganda” engineered by rival groups within the party. Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said Abure remains the authentic leader, stressing that the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that party leadership disputes are internal affairs.
“The Supreme Court never said that Abure was not chairman. It only confirmed that parties can resolve their issues internally. This propaganda is meant to destabilise our party,” Ifoh said.
He also accused Senator Nenadi Usman’s faction of misrepresenting the court’s ruling to confuse party members and weaken Labour Party’s electoral chances.
The crisis has already created uncertainty within the party, with factions submitting rival lists of candidates to INEC. Political observers warn that the leadership tussle could undermine Labour Party’s standing ahead of key state elections.
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