Access Code Controversy: INEC Says Abure-Led NEC No Longer Recognised

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected claims that it deliberately denied the Labour Party access codes to upload candidates for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, citing unresolved leadership disputes and ongoing court cases.

The clarification was contained in a press statement released on Wednesday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Esa-Messi, on behalf of the Commission.

INEC was responding to a protest by Labour Party supporters at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, January 5, over the alleged exclusion of the party’s candidates from the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.

According to the Commission, the Labour Party has been embroiled in internal leadership conflicts since 2024, which culminated in a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party).

INEC noted that the apex court “unequivocally held that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired,” adding that the faction nonetheless proceeded to conduct primaries for both the August 16, 2025 bye-elections and the forthcoming FCT Area Council polls.

The Commission recalled that the Abure-led faction had previously challenged INEC’s decision to exclude it from the bye-elections in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025, but the Federal High Court dismissed the case on August 15, 2025, reinforcing the Supreme Court’s position that Abure was no longer recognised as the party’s national chairman.

INEC further disclosed that the Labour Party subsequently filed multiple suits across different courts, all seeking orders compelling the Commission to issue access codes for uploading candidates for the FCT Area Council election.

One of such cases, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025, is still pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja, while another matter before the FCT High Court, Jabi Division, was adjourned to January 15, 2026 for hearing.

Despite the pending proceedings, the party again approached the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division, where an ex parte interim order was granted on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload Labour Party candidates.

However, the Commission stressed that the court expressly stated that the order would lapse after seven days unless extended.

INEC confirmed that the order expired on December 23, 2025, was not renewed, and therefore carries no legal force.

“Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting court order for INEC to act upon,” the Commission stated.

INEC added that it has filed responses in all pending matters and will not take any action capable of undermining judicial proceedings.

“Given that the matter is sub judice, INEC will continue to respect the sanctity of the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases,” the statement said.