The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Julius Abure's tenure as Labour Party National Chairman expired as of June 2024. INEC invalidated the party's leadership and March 2024 National Convention, asserting that it does not recognize LP’s claims and urging the court to dismiss its lawsuit.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that Julius Abure's tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) ended in June 2024. This assertion emerged in a counter-affidavit responding to LP's lawsuit, which challenged its exclusion from INEC’s training for party agents in preparation for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
INEC has declared that it does not recognize the LP's leadership, including Abure, and has invalidated the March 2024 National Convention, where Abure was purportedly re-elected. According to INEC, the convention breached both the Constitution and the Electoral Act, as the commission only engages with parties that have valid leadership.
In support of its counter-affidavit, INEC's legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa (SAN), argued that LP’s claims for declaratory reliefs lacked merit. They emphasized that the party failed to adhere to legal frameworks during its national convention, which means LP does not have a valid leadership recognized by INEC.
The commission further stated that it did not monitor or participate in the March convention held in Anambra State, asserting that it was conducted in violation of the Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and other relevant guidelines. As of August 16, 2024, the date of the refresher training notice, INEC maintained that LP lacked a valid national chairman or secretary, as their terms had expired.
