The Labour Party has distanced itself from a protest planned for Wednesday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), labeling the organizers as “impostors” and “political impersonators.”
The Labour Party made it clear that it is not in charge of planning the scheduled demonstration in a statement signed by Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s interim national chairman, and Senior Special Adviser on Media Ken Asogwa.
“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).
Some unidentified people apparently acting under the guise of the Labour Party are organizing this rally. We would like to make it clear that the Labour Party does not support the aforementioned demonstration.
The organizers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party,” the statement read partly.
The message warned that anyone advocating or planning the demonstration is not authorized by the party and should be viewed as a “impostor.”
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,” it continued.
The party also cited the recent rejection by INEC of a list of candidates purportedly put out by former chairman Julius Abure and his group for the next local council elections and national bye-elections.
The Labour Party claims that INEC recently rejected the list of candidates presented “by the former chairman of the party, Julius Abure and his unlawful group” for the upcoming local council elections and national bye-elections.
“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,” he continued.
The statement also called on the election commission to maintain its resolve and follow a ruling from the Supreme Court on April 4, 2025, which it said confirmed Abure’s leadership term had ended on June 8, 2023.
“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,” the party stated.
The Labour Party encouraged INEC to update its site and official platforms to reflect the leadership structure recognized by the court and called for the release of the official list of candidates provided by its present leadership.
The party also called on security services to deal appropriately with the protest organizers.
Given the aforementioned, we kindly request that all security agencies take note: the individuals preparing to demonstrate at INEC headquarters on August 6, 2025, are not Labour Party representatives.
“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 statement said.
