Labour Party Condemns INEC’s Omission of Candidates from August 16 Bye-Election

By Chinedu Echianu

The Labour Party has strongly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the exclusion of its candidates from the forthcoming bye-elections scheduled for August 16, 2025, describing the action as “unlawful,” “an abuse of power,” and a direct violation of constitutional provisions.

In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party accused INEC of deliberately omitting its duly nominated candidates from the list of those contesting in the bye-elections, warning that such actions will not go unchallenged.

“The Labour Party is very much aware of its constitutional rights and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), especially the right to sponsor candidates in elections,” the statement read. “INEC has no powers to stop us from fielding candidates or to selectively determine in which elections we can participate.”

The party also clarified that no court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court, has ruled against its current leadership. It explained that the apex court’s ruling of April 4, 2025, only addressed jurisdictional issues, not the substantive leadership matter, and reaffirmed that the judiciary cannot meddle in the internal affairs of political parties.

“At no point did the Supreme Court empower INEC to interfere with the internal matters of the Labour Party,” the party said. “INEC cannot arrogate to itself the powers of the court or give its own interpretation to a clear judgment of the Supreme Court.”

The Labour Party has therefore demanded the immediate inclusion of its candidates in the bye-election ballot and warned that proceeding with the elections without their names would amount to a colossal waste of public funds.

“We will resist any attempt to intimidate, harass, or ridicule our party through illegal means,” Ifoh stated. “Labour Party has spent 23 years building a reputation as the party for the masses, and we will not allow political manipulation to destroy that legacy.”

The party urged its members and supporters across the country to remain calm and vigilant while assuring its candidates that legal measures would be taken to ensure their names are uploaded ahead of the elections.

“It will be catastrophic for INEC to proceed with this election without the Labour Party. We are calling on Nigerians to continue praying that the electoral process in our country will someday reflect the true will of the people,” the statement concluded.