The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is illegal and unconstitutional for Julius Abure to continue parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP.
The electoral body said it no longer recognises Abure or other members of the party's national working committee, as their tenures expired in June 2024.
This is contained in a counter-affidavit, INEC filed in response to a suit brought by the Labour Party challenging its exclusion from the commission's refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The Commission argued that the Labour Party's leadership, including Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party's March 2024 National Convention, which purportedly re-elected Abure as chairman.
It maintained that the convention contravened both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, stressing that it only deals with parties that have legitimate leadership in place.
