Ahead of the August 16, 2025 bye-election and the Federal Capital Territory council election, a High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to accord exclusive recognition to Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party.
The court presided over by Hon. Justice Mustapha A. Ramat of the Nasarawa state division had on July 23, 2025 in a SUIT NO. NSD/LF.84/2024 in an interlocutory order directed INEC to also grant Access Code to Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the bye elections and the FCT Area Council elections as scheduled by the INEC.
INEC has refused 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.
Extract of the court Order of the Court reads; 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.
Reacting to this development, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk, 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 Umar Farouk, “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”.
He however reiterated that they are not happy that their candidates and party have not been given equal opportunity and time to campaign like other political parties. This he added is clearly a systemic route orchestrated by INEC to perpetually prevent Labour Party and its 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.”
