Labour Party kicks as INEC omits candidates from Bye-Election list

The Labour Party has described the omission of its candidates from the list of contestants for the August 16, 2025 bye-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “unlawful” and an “abuse of power.” In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Saturday, the party said it would challenge the […]

The Labour Party has described the omission of its candidates from the list of contestants for the August 16, 2025 bye-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “unlawful” and an “abuse of power.”

In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Saturday, the party said it would challenge the action of INEC and ensure the names of its duly nominated candidates are uploaded.

“The leadership of the Labour Party has frowned at the omission by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its candidates for the August 16, 2025 bye-election,” the statement read, adding that the omission is “unlawful, surprising and an abuse of power by the commission.”

The Labour Party insisted that as a registered political party, it retains the constitutional right to sponsor candidates for elections and accused INEC of overstepping its bounds.

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“INEC cannot stop political parties from fielding candidates in an election, provided the political parties abided by the requirement of the Electoral Acts,” the party said in the statement.

“INEC has no powers to either stop it from sponsoring candidates nor cherry-pick elections where it deems fit for our party to field candidates” it added.

Referencing the Supreme Court ruling of April 4, 2025, the party argued that the judgement did not derecognise its current leadership nor empower INEC to interfere in its internal affairs.

“It is on record that no court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court, has derecognised the present leadership of the Labour Party,” the statement said.

“The Supreme Court in its wisdom ruled that parties should resolve their problems within the available mechanism as provided by their constitutions” it added.

“The Labour Party as a responsible organization will do everything within the law to ensure that all efforts by INEC to intimidate, harass and ridicule the Labour Party will be resisted” it said.

The party also called on its members and Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue praying for the country’s democratic process.

“We warn that it will be a waste of resources and precious time should INEC go ahead with the bye election without Labour Party in the ballot,” the statement said. “It will indeed be catastrophic and a colossal loss of scarce monetary resources should INEC have its way.”

The party urged its candidates to remain calm, assuring them that all efforts are underway to ensure their participation in the forthcoming bye-election and future polls.

The electoral body will conduct elections into 16 Federal Constituencies, and senatorial districts across 12 states.