The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially withdrawn recognition of Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party, citing the expiration of his tenure and the binding judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 4, 2025.

INEC’s position, outlined in a sworn counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, appears to bring final closure to the leadership crisis that has plagued the party for months.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, the Commission stated that Abure’s tenure ended in June 2024, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025. The apex court had dismissed Abure’s claims for lack of jurisdiction and nullified earlier rulings that upheld his leadership.

Ayuba Mohammed, INEC’s Executive Officer for Litigation and Prosecution, deposed that:

“The defendant (INEC) cannot accept and issue access codes for the upload of candidates’ nomination forms (EC9, EC9F, and EC9G) for the by-election scheduled for 16/8/2025 to the plaintiff (Abure-led LP), as there were no valid National Chairman and National Secretary for the defendant to deal with, as provided in Exhibit INEC 2.”

INEC also dismissed the controversial National Convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, where Abure claimed re-election. According to the Commission, it neither monitored nor recognised the convention, stressing that it violated the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 2022 Electoral Act, INEC regulations, and the Labour Party’s constitution.