INEC Rejects Julius Abure Faction’s Candidates for August 16 By-Elections .
In a major political shake-up, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the list of candidates submitted by the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) for the August 16, 2025, nationwide by-elections and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council polls.
This move marks a significant victory for the faction of the party loyal to Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, who have long challenged the legitimacy of Abure’s continued leadership.
According to THISDAY and Politics Nigeria, INEC cited failure to comply with the Electoral Act and constitutional irregularities within the Abure-led faction. The Commission explained that it did not monitor the primary elections conducted by Abure’s group—a legal requirement under Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which invalidates any candidate nomination arising from such unmonitored exercises.
“This action is a huge step toward restoring internal democracy in our party,” said Oluchi Oparah, former LP National Treasurer, who has aligned with the faction recognized by Peter Obi and Alex Otti. She also noted that the Supreme Court had already affirmed that Julius Abure’s tenure as LP chairman ended in June 2023, rendering all subsequent actions under his watch legally void.
Abure Camp Reacts
Reacting to the development, the Abure-led faction condemned INEC’s action, describing it as a deliberate plot to destabilize the Labour Party and deny it fair participation in the coming elections. In a press statement, they argued that INEC has no authority to determine factional legitimacy and that no competent court has ruled them out of the race..
“INEC is unlawfully meddling in the internal affairs of a political party,” a statement from the group read
Political Implications
With INEC’s decision, the Obi-Otti bloc within the Labour Party gains stronger legal and institutional control, setting the tone ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Political analysts suggest this could further solidify Peter Obi’s hold over the party structure as he eyes a renewed presidential bid
