The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially excluded Labour Party candidates from the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026. This exclusion stems from ongoing internal leadership disputes within the Labour Party, which have led to a complex legal situation. The commission stated that it has not issued the necessary access codes for the party to upload its candidates, citing a lack of a valid court order compelling them to do so. The decision reflects a careful stance by INEC to avoid undermining ongoing judicial processes.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, elaborated on the situation, explaining that the Labour Party’s challenges are rooted in prolonged internal leadership disputes that began as early as 2024. These disputes were reportedly settled by the Supreme Court in April 2025. The Supreme Court, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party), made a clear ruling that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.
Despite this Supreme Court judgment, the Abure-led faction proceeded to conduct primaries for a nationwide bye-election on August 16, 2025, and for the FCT Area Council Election. This action by the faction has created further complications and legal challenges.
This is not the first time the Abure-led faction has faced exclusion. They previously challenged their exclusion from the August 2025 bye-election at the Federal High Court in Abuja, but this suit was ultimately dismissed. The judgment, delivered on August 15, 2025, reinforced the Supreme Court’s decision that Barr. Julius Abure was no longer recognized as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, thus upholding INEC’s decision to exclude them from that bye-election.
The Labour Party has subsequently filed multiple lawsuits in various courts, all aiming to compel INEC to issue access codes for the FCT Area Council election. These legal actions have been initiated in courts including the Nasarawa State High Court, the Federal High Court in Abuja, and two divisions of the FCT High Court.
In the most recent legal development at the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, an interim order was granted on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload the Labour Party candidates. However, the court explicitly stated that this order would only be valid for seven days unless extended.
INEC has since filed its defense, challenging the competence and jurisdiction of the court. As a result of this defense and the lapse of the seven-day period, the interim order consequently expired on December 23, 2025, and was not extended. This means there is currently no active court order for INEC to follow.
The commission has emphasized its commitment to respecting the judicial process. Given that the matter is sub judice, INEC will refrain from taking any actions that could potentially prejudice the outcome of the pending legal cases.
INEC will continue to await the final determination of these cases before making any further decisions regarding the inclusion of Labour Party candidates in the FCT Area Council elections.
Featured snippet paragraph: The answer is that INEC has excluded Labour Party candidates from the FCT Area Council elections because of ongoing internal leadership disputes and a lack of a valid court order, following a Supreme Court ruling that the Abure-led NEC tenure had expired.
This situation highlights the intricate interplay between electoral laws, political party internal governance, and judicial oversight in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The electoral body’s decision is based on established legal precedents and the principle of respecting court orders.
Political analysts suggest that the Labour Party must resolve its internal wrangling to regain eligibility for future electoral contests.
The FCT Area Council elections are a significant local governance event, and candidate exclusion impacts the democratic choices available to voters.
INEC maintains a neutral stance, awaiting judicial pronouncements to guide its actions in electoral matters.
The exclusion serves as a stark reminder for political parties to adhere to their constitutions and legal frameworks.
Fans of the Labour Party are closely watching these developments, hoping for a swift resolution that allows their candidates to participate.
How to resolve Labour Party candidate exclusion involves navigating complex legal challenges and internal party reforms.
The Federal High Court’s previous dismissal of a similar suit indicated a pattern of legal challenges not favoring the Labour Party’s position.
What is the impact of internal party disputes on electoral participation? Such disputes can lead to disqualification and disenfranchisement.
Why is INEC cautious about issuing access codes? They are bound by court orders and legal processes to ensure fairness and legality.
Is the Labour Party’s legal recourse effective? So far, recent court orders have lapsed without extension, suggesting challenges in their legal strategy.
The timeline for resolving these electoral disputes is crucial for the integrity of the FCT Area Council elections.
