Court Orders INEC to Recognise Abure-Led Labour Party, Extend Party Dues to It

In a recent ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must recognize the Labour Party (LP) under the leadership of Julius Abure as a legitimate political party in Nigeria. The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite in response to a suit filed by the Labour Party against INEC.

Following this ruling, Abure hailed the court’s decision as a significant victory for justice and democracy. He expressed gratitude for the court’s recognition of their leadership and underscored the importance of the ruling for the integrity of the party.

However, the party’s presidential candidate from the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, along with Abia State Governor Allex Otti and caretaker committee head Senator Nenadi Usman, have agreed to appeal the court’s decision. This appeal comes as they seek further clarification and support regarding the judgement.

The legal battle revolves around INEC’s failure to provide the Labour Party with necessary training notifications for their agents ahead of the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for November 16, 2024. The case highlighted the party’s rights under Nigerian electoral law, stressing that failure to receive this training notice contradicted the provisions of the Electoral Act.

In his statement regarding the court’s ruling, Abure emphasized the resilience of the Labour Party during this challenging time, stating, “This victory is not just mine, but a victory for justice and democracy. It confirms that the rule of law prevails.” He thanked both the judiciary for their impartiality and the judges who refrained from yielding to external pressures.

Abure also extended an olive branch to those who opposed him, urging them to reconcile with the party to foster unity and healing. “Now that the court has spoken, I offer my forgiveness to those who attempted to undermine our party,” he stated, advocating for collaboration moving forward.

In a simultaneous but differing response, Usman announced a unified intent to challenge the court’s ruling, acknowledging the prior history of the case and the decision to join the appeal process for the party’s welfare. He reassured party members to remain calm during this time of reconciliation as they navigate the complexities arising from the court’s judgement.