The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that Julius Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party expired in June 2024. This stance was made known in a counter affidavit filed by INEC in response to the Labour Party’s lawsuit challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for party agent uploads ahead of the Edo and Ondo State governorship elections.

INEC emphasized that it does not recognize the Labour Party’s March 2024 National Convention, which claimed to re-elect Abure, citing that the convention violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act. The Commission’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, argued that the Labour Party must succeed on the merits of its case, stating that INEC only engages with parties with valid leadership.

INEC has urged the court to dismiss the Labour Party’s suit, insisting that the party is not entitled to the reliefs sought due to the lack of valid leadership.