A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the Julius Abure-led Labour Party (LP) leadership access to its portal for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election. The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, also mandates INEC to provide Abure’s leadership with all rights and privileges granted to any registered political party in Nigeria.
The court’s decision came after the Labour Party, under Abure’s leadership, sued INEC for excluding the party from a refresher training in August, which aimed to teach political parties’ IT staff how to upload agents’ details for the Ondo governorship election set for November 16, 2024.
Abure explained that his leadership of the Labour Party had been legally established through a series of National Executive Council (NEC) meetings and national conventions, starting with his election as acting national chairman in March 2021. Since then, INEC had previously acknowledged him as the party’s chairman, including extending invitations for election material inspections.
However, the Labour Party was surprised when it was excluded from the IT training conducted by INEC, despite previous recognition. Justice Nwite ruled that INEC’s exclusion of Abure’s leadership was unlawful and ordered the electoral body to grant the Labour Party access to its portal and conduct a refresher training for LP staff on uploading agents’ information.
This ruling reinforces the legitimacy of Abure’s leadership and ensures the Labour Party can fully participate in the Ondo State governorship election preparations.
