- The LP faction accused unnamed individuals of promoting an unauthorised protest against INEC’s decision.
- Usman commended INEC’s refusal to accept Julius Abure’s candidate list for the forthcoming 16th August bye-elections.
The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by former minister of finance, Nenadi Usman, has distanced itself from a planned protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ken Asogwa, Usman’s senior special adviser on media, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, faulting unnamed individuals for promoting the protest.
He said the individuals behind the action are not recognised by the party’s leadership, describing them as impostors.
“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 hold tomorrow, 6th August 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the statement reads.
“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 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.”
Usman further hailed INEC’s decision to discard the list of candidates submitted by Julius Abure, who claims to be the national chairman of the party.
She described the electoral commission’s action as a welcome relief and urged it to remain resolute in upholding the authentic leadership list.
“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired on 8th June 2023 – and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgment of 4th April 2025,” she said.
While awaiting INEC’s publication of the list submitted by her faction, Usman pressed the commission to align fully with the apex court’s ruling.
“While we await INEC’s timely action in publishing the valid list of candidates submitted by the legitimate party leadership, we also call on the commission to give full effect to the said Supreme Court ruling by updating its official portal and other platforms to reflect the correct leadership of the Labour Party in line with the court’s judgment.”
Usman asked security operatives to clamp down on those allegedly behind the protest, accusing them of impersonation and political mischief.