The Labour Party has distanced itself from a protest scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the organisers as “impostors” and “political impersonators”.
In a statement signed by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party said it was not behind the planned demonstration.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to be held on August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party. We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party,” the statement read partly.
The statement warned that anyone participating in or promoting the protest does so without the consent of the party and should be regarded as an “impostor.”
“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor,” it added.
The party also referenced INEC’s recent rejection of a list of candidates allegedly submitted by former chairman Julius Abure and his group for the forthcoming national bye-elections and local council polls.
According to the Labour Party, INEC recently rejected the illegitimate list of candidates for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council elections submitted “by the former chairman of the party, Julius Abure and his unlawful group”.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party,” he added.
The statement further urged the electoral commission to remain resolute and act in line with a Supreme Court judgement issued on 4 April 2025, which, it said, affirmed the expiration of Abure’s leadership tenure since 8 June 2023.
“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired since 8th June 2023, and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgement of April 4, 2025,” the party noted.
While calling on INEC to publish the valid list of candidates submitted by its current leadership, the Labour Party also urged the Commission to update its portal and official platforms to reflect the court-recognised leadership structure.
The party also called on security agencies to take action against the individuals planning the protest.
“In light of the foregoing, we therefore call on all security agencies to take note: the persons planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on 6th August 2025 are not representatives of the Labour Party.
“They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement noted.
