The leadership tussle in the Labour Party has taken a fresh twist following an order of the Nasarawa State High Court directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the Julius Abure-led faction access codes to upload names of its candidates for the forthcoming bye-elections and the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Council polls.
In its ruling on suit number NSD/LF.84/2024, delivered on July 23, 2025, Justice Mustapha Ramat also ordered that Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim be accorded recognition as the authentic leaders of the Labour Party.
Reacting, the Abure-led faction expressed delight at the judgment. National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described the order as a welcome development that would restore fairness to what he called the “authentic leadership” of the party.
He, however, faulted INEC for denying LP candidates enough time to campaign, accusing the Commission of deliberately sidelining the party.
Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, dismissed the ruling as “forum shopping.” In a statement issued in Abuja, Usman accused the Abure group of desperation and abuse of court processes, insisting that the Supreme Court had, in April 2025, removed Abure from office.
She further argued that the Nasarawa State High Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter since INEC is a federal institution, warning that such actions undermine judicial authority and the rule of law.
The development has further widened divisions in the Labour Party, which has been battling internal strife since the 2023 general elections.