‘Contempt of court’ — LP faction faults INEC over Abure’s presence at consultative meeting

The Nenadi Usman leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allowing Julius Abure, the factional chairman of the party, to attend its quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.

The meeting, held in Abuja on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters, brought leaders of all registered political parties together.

Ken Asogwa, senior special adviser on media to Usman, said in a statement that Abure’s attendance was “a brazen act of impersonation” and “a clear breach of court orders”.

Asogwa said the development reflected “a disturbing pattern of complicity” within INEC, accusing some officials of undermining the integrity of the commission and “openly defying” subsisting court judgements.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the supreme court, on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, unanimously ruled that Julius Abure was no longer the national chairman of the Labour Party,” he said.

Asogwa added that the ruling was reaffirmed by a judgement of the federal high court in Abuja on August 15, 2025, which dismissed Abure’s request to be recognised as chairman.

“It is even on record that INEC, in a counter-affidavit dated August 13, 2025, affirmed under oath that Abure was no longer chairman,” he said.

He said allowing Abure to sit at the meeting despite those judgements amounted to “contempt of court”.

“INEC cannot depose under oath that Abure is no longer chairman and then turn around to accord him recognition,” Asogwa said.

“Such conduct amounts to contempt of court and a grave desecration of the sanctity of our judicial system, particularly the pronouncements of the supreme court.

The LP faction claimed that under Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC chairman, Abure was “ordered out” of a similar consultative meeting in July 2024 because of the same legal issue.

“As far back as July 2024, INEC under Prof. Yakubu demonstrated respect for the rule of law by asking Abure to leave its meeting,” Asogwa said.

“It is shocking that a commission that once upheld the law now allows this kind of impunity.”

The faction called on INEC to immediately enforce all valid court judgements on the party’s leadership.

“While the current INEC leadership may be transitional, it must remember that even a short tenure leaves a long record. Posterity will judge every action taken today,” he added.

LP LEADERSHIP CRISIS

The leadership crisis has fractured the opposition party, leading to the emergence of parallel factions.

While Abure leads one group, Usman heads the other faction as its interim national chairperson.

The rift has created uncertainty within the LP as it prepares for the 2027 elections, with both factions asserting legitimacy and control over party activities.

In April, the supreme court ruled that the court of appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure as the chairman.

Since the verdict, there have been various interpretations of the apex court’s ruling, with all factions claiming victory.