LP crisis deepens as Abure loyalists warn INEC against new congresses

The internal crisis rocking the Nigerian Labor Party intensified on Tuesday as state presidents loyal to the party’s national president, Julius Abure, warned the Independent National Electoral Commission against recognizing or monitoring any new congresses by rival factions.

The presidents, under the aegis of the Forum of duly elected state presidents, described moves to conduct new congresses as “illegal” and a threat to the stability of the party, insisting that valid congresses had already been concluded at the national level in December 2025.

In a statement signed by the forum’s secretary, Abdurrahim Imam Chindo, the group said it had formally written to INEC, urging the electoral body to resist what it termed “institutional sabotage” without legal backing.
Congresses already concluded – Presidents

The forum maintained that the state congresses on December 2, 4 and 6, 2025 were held in accordance with the electoral law and duly monitored by INEC, stressing that the results remain part of the official records of the commission.

He added that the legal notice was issued in line with section 82(1) of the Election Act 2022, making the process legally binding and irreversible except by court order.

“The mandate of state presidents is rooted in law and cannot be changed by administrative decisions,” the statement reads.

The group warned that any attempt to conduct or recognize parallel congresses would create confusion within the party and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Reference to previous INEC decision

The Presidents also recalled that INEC, on 16 February 2026, had rejected the request of a former minister, Nenadi Usman, seeking recognition of the dissolution of existing party structures.

According to them, the commission at the time determined that the action lacked legal notice and constitutional basis – a position they say remains valid and unchallenged.

They argued that any deviation from this position would amount to a contradiction with INEC’s own documents and set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democratic system.

The forum stressed that only a court of competent jurisdiction has the power to cancel congresses already monitored by INEC, warning that any parallel exercise would be countered by legal means.

“Today it is the Labor Party; tomorrow it could be any other party,” the group said, pointing out that the wider leadership dispute is already before the Court of Appeal, with INEC listed as a party to the case.

They urged the electoral umpire to maintain the status quo pending the judicial decision and to uphold the Constitution, electoral law and his own guidelines.

Copies of the statement were sent to President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, security agencies, the Inter-Party Consultative Council, the United Nations and foreign missions in Nigeria.

While reaffirming their commitment to internal democracy and peaceful engagement, the presidents promised to take all legal measures to defend what they described as the integrity of the party’s structures.

The latest developments underline the intensifying factional battle within the Labor Party, raising fresh concerns about its cohesion ahead of future election contests.

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