Nenadi Usman
The Nenadi Usman faction of the Labour Party (LP) says it is not involved in a planned protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by Ken Asogwa, her senior special adviser on media, Usman said the protest is being “promoted by persons who are not recognised by the party.”
“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 hold tomorrow, 6th August 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the statement reads.
“This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party.
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“We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
“The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party.
“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor.”
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Usman asked security agencies to arrest those behind the protest, describing them as “political impersonators and mischief-makers.”
She also commended INEC for excluding the list of candidates submitted by Julius Abure, the factional chairman of the party, from the bye-elections scheduled for August 16.
She described the development as a relief, adding that the electoral body is expected to recognise and publish the authentic list of candidates submitted by the lawful leadership of the party.
“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired on 8th June 2023 – and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgment of 4th April 2025,” she said.
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“While we await INEC’s timely action in publishing the valid list of candidates submitted by the legitimate party leadership, we also call on the commission to give full effect to the said Supreme Court ruling by updating its official portal and other platforms to reflect the correct leadership of the Labour Party in line with the court’s judgment.”
On Monday, Kennedy Ahanotu, national youth leader of the Abure faction of the LP, accused INEC of interfering in the party’s affairs.
Ahanotu claimed that INEC has been acting against the party since the 2023 general election.
He also criticised Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, for allegedly engaging directly with elected LP candidates rather than the party’s national structure.
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