The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially withdrawn recognition of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party due to the expiration of his tenure in June 2024.
This decision follows a leadership crisis within the party, marked by internal conflicts and disagreements regarding Abure’s legitimacy.
INEC stated that Abure’s continued claim to the position is “illegal and unconstitutional” as his tenure expired in June.
This decision is supported by a counter-affidavit filed in the Federal High Court Abuja in response to the Labour Party’s lawsuit challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections.
The party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle since June when the party’s congress in Anambra state extended the tenure of the Julius Abure-led executive.
However, this move has been contested by key stakeholders, including former deputy chairman Callistus Okafor, Abia State governor Alex Otti, and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, who have collectively organized a national Congress to address the deadlock, further complicating the party’s internal dynamics.
