CurrentReport Blog A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide the Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party (LP) access to its portal for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election. The ruling was issued on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who also instructed INEC to extend all rights and privileges due to a registered political party to Abure’s leadership.
The Labour Party, under Abure’s leadership, had filed a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024) against INEC after being excluded from a refresher training organized in August. This training was meant to familiarize political parties’ Information Technology (IT) departments with the process of uploading party agents’ information to the INEC portal, essential for the Ondo governorship election scheduled for November 16.
In a supporting affidavit, Abure asserted that he was lawfully elected as the acting national chairman of the LP following the death of the former chairman. His leadership was ratified in a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in March 2021 and at subsequent conventions. He claimed that INEC had previously recognized his position, including during preparations for the upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states.
The court’s decision ensures that the Labour Party, led by Abure, can fully participate in the electoral process, allowing them to upload their agents’ details to INEC’s portal for the Ondo governorship poll.
