The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained its decision to block the Labour Party from uploading candidates for the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. According to INEC, the party’s ongoing leadership crisis and multiple court cases have created legal uncertainties that prevent the commission from recognizing any faction’s authority to submit candidate lists.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, stated that the Labour Party has been embroiled in internal disputes since 2024, culminating in a Supreme Court judgment on April 4, 2025. The court ruled that the tenure of the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired. Despite this, the Abure faction conducted primaries for the FCT elections, leading to further legal confrontations.
The commission noted that the party filed multiple suits in different courts seeking orders to compel INEC to issue access codes for uploading candidates. One such interim order, granted on December 16, 2025, lapsed after seven days and was not extended. Therefore, INEC maintains that there is no current court order mandating it to act.
INEC emphasized its commitment to respecting judicial processes and stated it would await final court decisions before taking any action regarding the Labour Party’s participation in the FCT elections. The commission reiterated its dedication to upholding the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and its regulations and guidelines.
