Tension mounted at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja as a group of protesters stormed the premises, demanding the immediate reinstatement of candidates excluded from the forthcoming nationwide bye-elections.
The demonstrators, believed to be affiliated with civil society groups sympathetic to the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, voiced their grievances over what they described as “unlawful exclusion” of their candidates from INEC’s final list ahead of the bye-elections scheduled to take place across several constituencies.
Protesters Demand Electoral Justice
Chanting slogans and holding placards with messages such as “INEC Must Obey Court Orders,” and “Democracy Under Attack,” the protesters accused the electoral body of ignoring valid court rulings affirming the candidacy of Labour Party nominees.
One of the protest leaders, Comrade John Eze, spoke to the press at the scene, stating:
“We are here to demand justice. The Labour Party followed due process and secured favorable court judgments. Yet, INEC has refused to include our candidates. This is not just an attack on a party—it’s an attack on democracy.”
Security operatives were seen at the INEC headquarters to ensure the protest remained peaceful and did not escalate into violence.
Interestingly, the protest has sparked internal controversy within the Labour Party itself. In a statement issued earlier today, the official Labour Party leadership, currently under the interim chairmanship of Senator Nenadi Usman, distanced itself from the protest, labeling it as unauthorized and politically motivated.
According to the statement: “The individuals parading themselves at INEC are not recognized by the authentic leadership of the Labour Party. Their actions do not represent our position as a party. We urge INEC and the general public to disregard any claims made on our behalf by these impostors.”
This development underscores the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which has been embroiled in a legal battle between factions since after the 2023 general elections.
INEC Yet to Respond Officially
As of the time of filing this report, INEC has not released an official response to the protest or the allegations of wrongful exclusion of candidates. However, sources within the commission suggest that legal reviews are ongoing regarding the status of all submitted candidate lists and accompanying court orders.
The upcoming bye-elections will fill vacant positions in the National and State Assemblies resulting from resignations, nullifications, and other circumstances across the country.
The Labour Party emerged as a strong third force during the 2023 general elections, especially among youth voters and urban dwellers. Exclusion of its candidates from key bye-elections could reshape the political dynamics in many contested constituencies.
Observers say the situation calls for swift clarification by INEC to ensure public trust in the electoral process is maintained.
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 in Abuja as protesters stormed INEC){kind=link}