The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from a protest planned for Wednesday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the organisers are “impostors” and not affiliated with the party.
In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party made it clear that it neither authorised nor supports the planned demonstration.
“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),” the statement read.
“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 party further stated that any individual who takes part in or promotes the protest is acting without its consent and should be considered an impersonator.
The statement comes amid ongoing internal disputes within the party, including the submission of what it described as an illegitimate list of candidates for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council polls by the former chairman, Julius Abure, and his associates.
According to the LP, INEC recently rejected that list—a move welcomed by the party’s current leadership.
“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,” Asogwa said.
The party referenced a Supreme Court judgement delivered on April 4, 2025, which it said affirmed that Abure’s leadership tenure expired on June 8, 2023.
It called on INEC to update its official platforms to reflect the court-recognised leadership structure and to publish the valid list of candidates submitted by the current leadership.
The Labour Party also called on security agencies to take immediate action against those behind the planned protest.
“These individuals 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 concluded.
