The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially excluded Labour Party (LP) candidates from the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The commission revealed on Wednesday that it has withheld the essential access codes required for the party to upload its candidates, citing the absence of a valid court order to do so.
According to a statement by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the party’s predicament is rooted in “prolonged internal leadership disputes” that began in 2024.
INEC pointed to a Supreme Court ruling from April 2025 (Usman v. Labour Party), which unequivocally declared that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.
The commission noted that despite the apex court’s judgment, the Abure-led faction proceeded to conduct primaries for both the August 2025 bye-elections and the upcoming FCT elections.
INEC recalled that a Federal High Court judgment on August 15, 2025, had already upheld the commission’s decision to exclude the party from previous elections, reinforcing the fact that Abure is no longer recognized as the National Chairman.
In a bid to force INEC’s hand, the Labour Party filed multiple suits across several courts, including:
Nasarawa State High Court
Federal High Court, Abuja
FCT High Court (Life Camp Division)
While an interim order was granted on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload LP candidates, the commission explained that the order carried a seven-day lifespan.
INEC clarified that the interim order lapsed on December 23, 2025, and was not extended after the commission challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
“There is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon,” the statement emphasised.
The commission stated that it will not take further action while the cases remain sub judice, opting instead to await a final judicial determination to avoid undermining the legal process.
About The Author
