- Safiu Kehinde
The Labour Party faction led by the interim National Chairman, Sen. Nenadi Usman, has called for the arrest of the Julius Abure-led faction of the party who had allegedly planned to stage a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party.
According to the statement, the alleged protest was sanctioned by the Labour Party.
The Usman-led faction labelled the organisers of the protest which was slated to hold today as unknown individuals.
“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.”
Senator Usman warned that anyone participating in or promoting the protest does so without the consent of the party and should be regarded as an “impostor.”
She called on security agencies arrest and prosecute the protesters who she called political impersonators and mischief-makers.
“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 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.” she said.
The party’s interim chairman also commended INEC for its rejection of a list of candidates allegedly submitted by Julius Abure and his faction for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council polls.
She held that INEC dismissed the list because it was submitted by an illegitimate group while urging the commission to remain steadfast and act under the auspice of the Supreme Court judgment which confirmed the expiration of Abure’s tenure.
“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.
“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.” Usman said.
She asked INEC to publish the valid list of candidates submitted by its current leadership and also update its portal and official platforms to reflect the court-recognised leadership structure.