Court Orders INEC To Enlist Labour Party, Candidates For Bye-Election, FCT Council Poll
A Nasarawa State High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant Access Code Labour Party to upload the names and particulars of all their nominated candidates for the bye elections and the FCT Area Council elections as scheduled by the commission.
The Court also directed the electoral umpire to also accord exclusive recognition to Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party and candidates ahead of tomorrow August 16th bye-election and federal capital Territory council elections.
Labour Party had approached the court to challenge INEC over its refusal to publish the names of the nominated candidates by the Labour Party in a bye-election scheduled to hold on Saturday as well as the FCT council elections scheduled for early 2026.
Justice Mustapha A. Ramat, who presided over the matter, issued an interlocutory order directing INEC to publish the party and the names of its candidates for the poll.
Reacting to this development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, applauded the intervention of the court describing it as a welcome development and an order which will right the many wrongs meted to the authentic leadership of the party.
According to Arabambi, "We received this intervention with a heart full of gratitude. We are however hoping that INEC as a law abiding institution, will do the needful by formally publishing the names of our nominees for the bye election and the FCT council elections without further delay.
"We are however not happy that our candidates have not been giving equal opportunity and time to campaign like other political parties. As it stands now, our candidates, due to reasons not of theirs were prevented from campaigning. This is clearly a systemic route orchestrated by INEC to perpetually prevent Labour Party and their candidates from favourably participating in elections. Recall that in Ondo state, INEC granted Labour Party's governorship candidate access code barely 24 hour to the election. This has become a norm and we will not take such treatment any longer.
"Finally, we urge our candidates not to be undaunted or dismayed by these glaring limitations. Labour Party is a household name. We expect nothing but victory in all these contested offices. We also call on members of the party in the affected states to once more show their indomitable and 'never die spirit' to return our candidates."
Below is the extract of the Order of the Court. (Also attached is the Original Copy of the Court Order.)
Praying for the following orders:
1. AN ORDER OF INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT directing the Defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission) to accord exclusive recognition to only the officers of Labour Party including the 2nd and 3rd Plaintiffs Julius (Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim) as the National Chairman and National Secretary, who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27” day of March, 2024 as the authentic officers of the 1st Plaintiff (Labour Party) pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
2. AN ORDER of Interim Injunction restraining the Defendant from dealing in any way-or manner or otherwise according any recognition whatsoever to any person (s) claiming to be officers of the 1st Plaintiff, except the officers who emerged from the convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27th day of March, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
3. AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER directing the Defendant to grant access Code to the Plaintiffs to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye elections of FCT Area Council Elections scheduled by the Defendant.
4. AN ORDER of this Honourable Court granting accelerated hearing of this suit.
5. AND for such further order or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
AND AFTER HEARING the submissions of Idris Yakubu, MCI Arb. UK (Esq.) Counsel for Plaintiffs and none appearance of the Defendant after dully served with the Motion on Notice (M1/2025) dated 17th day of July, 2025.
IT 1S HEREBY ORDERED that:
The application/reliefs sought as herein contained are hereby granted as prayed.
Case is accordingly adjournment to 22nd September, 2025 for hearing of the main case.
UNDER THE HAND AND SEAL OF THE PRESIDING JUDGE, ON THE 23rd DAY OF JULY, 2025.
HIS LORDSHIP HON. JUSTICE MUSTAPHA A. RAMAT
Dated this 23rd day of July, 2025.
