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Tag: Labour Party

  • Moghalu quits Labour Party 

    Moghalu quits Labour Party 

    • From Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha 

    The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, Dr. George Moghalu has formally resigned from the party.

    The former Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) conveyed the decision in a letter dated January 26, 2026 to the party Chairman in his ward, Uruagu, Nnewi.

    Moghalu expressed profound appreciation to the party at the ward, state, and national levels for providing him the platform to contest the guber poll.

    Read Also: Fubara never removed Tinubu’s portrait from Rivers Govt House, says Rivers govt

    He also acknowledged support and cooperation he received from party leaders and members throughout the campaign period.

    The letter reads in part, “I bring you the good wishes of my family and write to formally inform you of my resignation from the Labour Party, effective January 26, 2026. 

    “Let me also thank the party, through you, for providing me the opportunity to use the Labour Party platform to contest the last governorship election of our state. 

    “Please accept, as always, the assurance of my sincere regards and kindly convey same to the members.”

  • Abure faction to appeal Judgement sacking him as national chairman of LP

    Abure faction to appeal Judgement sacking him as national chairman of LP

    The faction of the Labour Party led by Julius Abure has announced plans to immediately appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which sacked him as the party’s national chairman.

    The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Peter Lifu, recognised the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the authentic leadership of the party.

    In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, the party argued that the court misinterpreted the April 4, 2025, verdict of the Supreme Court in declaring a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, as caretaker chairman, describing the decision as inconsistent with the Labour Party Constitution.

    The statement further maintained that Usman is not a registered member of the Labour Party.

    According to the faction, the ruling contradicts the Supreme Court’s position that no court has the authority to appoint leadership for a political party, as leadership matters fall within the internal affairs of political parties.

    The party added that it was encouraged by the fact that the Federal High Court is not the court of last resort, stressing that it would approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment.

    The statement read, “Although we are yet to see the Certified True Copy of the judgment in order to fully make comment about it, our position will become stronger when we see the CTC of the judgement. But generally, from the brief we have gotten so far, it is clear that the party will appeal the judgement. 

    “Before today’s judgment, we have been suspecting that it may go this way because of the body language around the court. When the matter was first filed, it was assigned to Justice Omotosho and suddenly, there was a sumarsult, as another matter was filed which was impari material and the one sent to Omotosho was withdrawn and now sent to Justice Peter Lifu. That was a red flag for us. 

    “Secondly, the court refused us the opportunity to respond to issues raised in the counter affidavit filed by other parties and quickly adjourned for judgement. That was the second red flag. 

    “Our adversaries were all over the place, jubilating weeks before, over a judgement that had not been delivered, telling everyone that they had already won. The jubilation by our adversaries was all over the social media, that come today the judiciary will hand over the party to Dr. Alex Otti. 

    Read Also: Court sacks Abure, orders INEC to recognise Nenadi-led leadership of Labour Party

    “Now coming to look at the judgement itself, Nigerians should remember that the Court of Appeal pronounced Julius Abure’s National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party.  That pronouncement was what Nenadi Usman took to the Supreme Court to say that the courts (Federal High Court and Appeal Court) were wrong to have pronounced somebody as the Chairman of the Party. Ironically, today, a Federal High Court has summersulted and pronounced somebody as the Caretaker National Chairman of a party. So what is the judiciary turning into? 

    “To us, that was a clear contradiction against what the Supreme Court said. Secondly, the Supreme Court said that all matters that have to do with the leadership of the political party are internal affairs of the party and that has been the position of the Supreme Court. 

    “The courts have severely declined jurisdiction on matters that have to do with internal affairs of political parties. Looking at the judgement itself, in one breath, the court said the Caretaker Committee was properly set up, in another breath, the court said, it was an internal affair of a political party. In any event, the court was even wrong to be interpreting the decision of the Supreme Court. 

    “Secondly, even the Supreme Court never said that our tenure has expired. The Supreme Court simply declined jurisdiction in entertaining the matter because it was an internal affairs of the party. 

    “In any event, the tenure of the executive had never expired. The tenure of the executive was to expire in June 2024 but the National Convention was held in March, 2024 before the expiration of the then executive, which created the present leadership of the party. So for the court to have stated that the tenure has expired and a vacuum created are all laughable.

    “It is curious at how this court arrived at holding that there was a vacuum in the leadership of the party when it didn’t go into the validity and legality of the national convention of the party held on March 27th, 2024.”

    The party urged its members to remain calm as the leadership will do everything within the laws to ensure that justice is served for the interest of the party. 

    It warned that the party is not for sale and no amount of financial power will make us abdicate our leadership position in the party. 

  • 2027: Obi’s former running mate, Baba-Ahmed, declares presidential ambition

    2027: Obi’s former running mate, Baba-Ahmed, declares presidential ambition

    The Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday formally declared his interest in contesting the presidency in 2027.

    He also reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party (LP) amid ongoing political realignments.

    Baba-Ahmed, 56, was the running mate to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the declaration at a rally held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

    His announcement comes barely one week after Obi announced his exit from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    This move has triggered intense debate over the party’s future and the direction of the wider opposition ahead of the next general election.

    However, speaking on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed made it clear that he would not follow Obi to the ADC.

    He said, “I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes.

    “Can I please remind you that before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency before him? The records are there for you to see.”

    The former lawmaker recalled his earlier attempt to secure his party’s presidential ticket, noting that he had contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries years before aligning with Obi in the Labour Party.

    “In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.

    “If you heard me well in what I just submitted, I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that is why I decided to flow with it,” he said.

    “Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. You asked about my ethnicity. Yes, I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution also allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.

    However, Baba-Ahmed noted that while he had made his intention known, he would adhere strictly to party and electoral guidelines.

    “However, as a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it. But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth,” he stated.

    Reacting, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculations that he might defect following Obi’s exit.

    Abure said the development demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact, adding that several key figures, including the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had also chosen to stay back.

    He said, “Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true. Otti also said he was not going to defect to Peter Obi.

    “On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a telephone call from our Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was reduced to 6 million votes. We all know what happened.”

    Read Also: LP crisis: INEC, Baba-Ahmed present as Abure hosts NEC meeting

    Abure further disclosed that Baba-Ahmed personally suggested a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party.

    “In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill.

    “But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans, and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.

    “The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.

    Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a fresh dimension to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, as parties begin early positioning amid shifting alliances within the opposition.

  • 2027: Labour Party will end Senator Kalu’s re-election to Senate, says Gov. Otti

    2027: Labour Party will end Senator Kalu’s re-election to Senate, says Gov. Otti

    Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has vowed that the Labour Party (LP) will thwart Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s attempt to return to the Senate in 2027.

    Otti made the remarks in response to a statement attributed to Kalu, in which the senator, speaking in Ebonyi State, pledged to ensure a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, including backing the production of the state’s next governor from the party.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti dismissed Kalu’s comments, asserting that he does not need Kalu’s support for his own re-election in 2027.

    Otti described Kalu’s repeated insistence on not supporting him against his party’s candidate as “pedestrian and ludicrous,” and challenged the senator to produce the unit and ward-level results from the last governorship and presidential elections. 

    He claimed that the APC performed poorly in all polling units and wards in Bende Local Government Area, Kalu’s home constituency, during the 2023 elections.

    According to Otti, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered to respond to Senator Kalu over whom he chooses to work with or for, since it’s within his constitutional and democratic rights but because he drew the name of Governor Alex Otti into it once again, we thought it appropriate to respond and put the records straight.

    “First, Governor Alex Otti has never gone to Senator Kalu to appeal to him to support his re-election bid, neither has he ever made any attempt to convince him to work against his party the APC or their would-be Governorship Candidate in 2027. 

    “Senator Kalu’s penchant for consistent emphasis on not supporting Otti against his party and would-be Candidate, has, to say the least, become pedestrian and ludicrous.

    “If Senator Kalu’s repeated statements are geared towards issuing subtle threats to Governor Otti, then he is committing a calamitous blunder of costly consequences, because threats toughen rather than frighten or weaken Governor Otti.

    “Again, those who genuinely want to support their party and candidates do not make unnecessary noise about it, rather they show it through hard work and sincere dedication.

    “At this point, we challenge Senator Kalu to produce his unit and ward results in the last Governorship and Presidential elections.  

    “The results from INEC show clearly that the APC lost woefully both in the Governorship and Presidential elections at the polling units and wards of all the APC candidates in the 2023 election in Bende LGA where Senator Kalu hails from. 

    “The question is, if he truly worked for the President and his party, why did the President lose in his constituency while he won in the election conducted on the same day?

    Read Also: Wike reaffirms loyalty to Tinubu amid rising APC tensions in Rivers

    “Again, if Governor Otti could convince the people to so unanimously vote for him and the LP in the last election when they supported him merely on the strength of his character, capacity to serve, excellent antecedents and sound campaign manifesto which were just promises, and which saw him emerge the only LP Governor in the whole country, how does Senator Kalu think that the people would not support and vote massively for Governor Otti and any other candidates or party he directs them to vote for having seen the enduring transformation he has brought in the state in less than three years as Governor. 

    “It would be strange if Senator Kalu has yet to realise that Abia people see Governor Alex Otti as their best political party, and his re-election as a divine project that must be executed with courage, passion and precision.

    “Finally, we congratulate Senator Kalu for drafting his younger brother into the 2027 governorship race. We need to remind him that this same brother of his was in the race for the 2023 Governorship election as the flag bearer of APP where he placed last at the end of polls. 

    “It must also be noted that at the moment, four capable and formidable Senatorial Aspirants have indicated their intention to run for the Abia North seat under Labour Party and whoever amongst them wins the primaries would receive massive support from the Governor to win the elections come 2027.”

  • Don joins Imo governorship race

    Don joins Imo governorship race

    Former Labour Party 2023 governorship candidate in Imo State, Prof. Gerald Okeke, has joined next year’s state governorship under African Democratic Congress(ADC).

    Okeke, an expert in Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability,  believes his credentials make him a strong contender.

    In a statement, Okeke, who spoke  to reporters at the Nike Lake Hotel Resort, Enugu, said with his joining ADC, he has become a candidate to beat in the governorship contest.

    It added that Okeke said he joined the race under ADC, because Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, has moved to ADC.

    Okeke is a recipient of the  LifeTime Achievement Award in Climate and Environmental Sustainability.

    Okeke hoped to get the ticket and win the election, as his credentials as first African professor of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, which earned him international recognition, made him an attractive candidate for the race.

    Read Also: A defining moment for Nigeria: Why staying the course matters

    Okeke aims to transform Imo into an industrial hub, attracting investments from Africa and the world and promising to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability in governance.

    He also cited his contributions to development of the state, as he has a proven record in the oil and gas industry.

    However, he would step down for Emeka Ihedioha, saying; “Ihedioha is overqualified for the governorship position in my beloved state.”

    Okeke’s defection to ADC adds to the party’s strength in the region, joining notable politicians like Abia South senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Anambra Central senator, Victor Umeh, and a former governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu.

    He predicts that ADC will become dominant force in the Southeast,” the statement said.

  • Labour Party mocks Obi’s defection speech, says it was lacklustre 

    Labour Party mocks Obi’s defection speech, says it was lacklustre 

    • …begs Nigerians for forgiveness for fielding an unfit presidential candidate in 2023
    • …says Obi has clearly lost charm of 2023

    The leadership of the Labour Party on Wednesday said it took notice of the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi and a few of his supporters to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The former Anambra State governor and some of his supporters, including serving federal lawmakers, officially joined the ADC on Wednesday at a ceremony in Enugu State. 

    In response to the defection, his former party mocked his speech at the occasion, describing it as “lacklustre.”

    The Labour Party “wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians.”

    According to the party, Obi has clearly lost the “charm that had endeared him to the people prior 2023.”

    In a statement signed by the national publicity secretary of the Julius Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, the Party asked Nigerians for forgiveness for fielding “unfitting presidential candidate in 2023.”

    The party wondered why it took Obi and his supporters “this long to make the move

    because we have since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly. We have patiently waited for this day.”

    It added that the party was finally liberated by Obi’s defection, saying that as party leaders, they count it (Obi’s defection) as a blessing.

    The statement said, “It will be on record that the leadership of the Labour Party had since urged Obi and his disgruntled followers to exit the party if they were unable to work with the leadership of the party. As a matter of fact, the party had suspended many of the lawmakers for anti party and was clearly going to meet the same treatment on the Presidential Candidate but for the intervention of some well meaning Nigerians. 

    “The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti. It was them that sponsored the insurrection against the Julius Abure leadership. We had also expected Governor Otti to follow Obi out of the party. We are surprised that even though he has been suspended from the party, he is still loitering around. It is still not too late for him to follow his political leader.”

    The party also said  that the “charade which took place today in Enugu was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East.”

    “All we saw were mere political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today. This is clearly a danger signal that the Obi presidency (or Vice Presidency) is already a failed project from inception. He has clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior 2023,” the statement said. 

    The statement added, “He must be told that the South East lost out completely in the President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023.  While some states of the federation boast as much as five ministers, the entire states in the South East was given a paltry five ministerial slots. The marginalisation against the zone has continued even in infrastructure allocation and I wonder if the Southeast will repeat the same political harakiri again.   

    “Finally, we urge Nigerians to watch out for the Labour Party. We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians. We are already working out the best prospect that we hope will bring Nigeria back to its glorious days.”

  • I won’t dump Labour Party after Obi’s exit, says Otti

    I won’t dump Labour Party after Obi’s exit, says Otti

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has assured residents of the state and his supporters that he has no intention of defecting from the Labour Party (LP), despite reports linking the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, with a planned move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Obi defected to ADC on Wednesday, December 31,from Labour Party. He made his decision known in a statement posted on his Facebook page. 

    Speaking during the December edition of his monthly media chat with journalists at the State Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia, Governor Otti said Obi personally informed him of his decision before taking steps to leave the Labour Party for another platform.

    The governor, however, made it clear that he remains committed to the Labour Party, stressing that he has no plans to exit the party that provided him the platform to become governor.

    Otti explained that his decision to stay in the Labour Party is driven by his resolve to continue efforts aimed at rebuilding and strengthening the party. 

    According to him, leaving the party would only be considered if all attempts to redeem and reposition it fail.

    He reaffirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party and assured supporters that his focus remains on governance in Abia State and sustaining the political ideals that brought his administration to power.

    “I joined Labour Party before Peter Obi. I didn’t join the Labour Party with him. He has communicated me that he was leaving Labour Party and I gave him my blessings, but I remain in Labour Party.

    “I told him that I will have to continue the struggle to rescue Labour Party. That’s the party that brought me to power.

    “If we fight and get to the end and we can’t retrieve Labour Party, then, we can now discuss options. But for now, I am not defecting with him.

    Responding to the call by the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti while dismissing Kalu said, “I want to thank the Deputy Speaker for heeding the call that I made in my Christmas message, calling on our people who have the means to extend consideration to the less privileged, particularly at this season. So, seeing that he heeded that call and distributed rice and some money to vulnerable people, I thank him.

    “But then, I have also taken the principal decision not to dignify all the comments that he made with any response. I am sure that you know a man that they called Winston Churchill, he was a two time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and lived for 90 years. He was a profound thinker and writer. There was a comment that he made. He said that you will never get to your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.

    “So, we remain focused on our job, we don’t want to be distracted, that will be my response.”

    Responding to question on whether he has plans to run for the second tenure, Otti said, “I have also resisted the urge to begin to make predictions of what will happen in the future because I don’t have that anointing. But if God gives us life, it’s His Will that will be done, not man’s will.

    “Let’s not speak when the Lord has not spoken. But we can always have our wish to say this is what we want to do, but at the end of the day, everything is in God’s hands.”

    Giving a breakdown on what his administration has achieved over the last one month and also intended to do in the coming days, Gov. Otti disclosed that as part of the state government’s plans to ease off transportation stress from Abians, his administration would soon receive the delivery of more 20 electric buses, adding that another 60 of the buses were expected in the state to make up the number of the Electric Buses to 100, plying different routes in the state.

    The governor also announced that the Umuahia bus terminal would be commissioned early January with construction work to begin in Aba bus terminal few months ahead.

    While attributing the recent acquisitions of some of the moribun companies by the state government, Gov reinstated the commitment of his government to address the level of unemployment among the teeming youths in the state.

    He added that work would soon resume at the Abia Mega City village as part of plans by the state to end medical tourism by Nigerians and exportation of health workers to the overseas.

  • JUST IN: Peter Obi dumps Labour Party for ADC

    JUST IN: Peter Obi dumps Labour Party for ADC

    Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has announced his decision to leave the Labour Party and align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as part of his broader commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.

    In a statement he issued on Wednesday, Obi said Nigeria is at a critical point in its history and requires clear purpose, unity and decisive action to address its challenges. 

    He noted that moments of national difficulty often demand fresh approaches and renewed resolve in order to secure a better future.

    According to him, Nigeria must recommit itself to true democratic values rooted in self-determination, equality and national cohesion. 

    He stressed that governance should reflect the will of the people and work in the collective interest of citizens.

    Obi reaffirmed his commitment to the defence and strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic system, emphasising the importance of credible, transparent and fair elections. 

    He called for comprehensive reforms of the electoral process, including strict adherence to electoral laws, improved transparency and institutional efficiency, noting that electoral integrity remains central to responsive and accountable governance.

    He warned that Nigeria, given its size, population and importance to Africa and the global economy, cannot afford democratic setbacks, adding that protecting democracy is essential ahead of future elections.

    Despite the challenges, Obi said he remains optimistic about Nigeria’s future, citing the country’s vast human and natural resources. 

    He reiterated his belief that a functional, inclusive and productive Nigeria is achievable with the right leadership, unity and policy direction.

    He explained that his political journey has been shaped by years of learning, leadership training and exposure to global best practices in governance and nation-building. 

    Drawing lessons from countries that have successfully achieved unity and development, Obi said Nigeria can also chart a new path towards stability and growth.

    Obi concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working with like-minded Nigerians within the ADC to pursue national unity, effective leadership and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens.

  • Christmas: Labour Party faction urges Tinubu to use APC ‘Broom’ to sweep out corruption

    Christmas: Labour Party faction urges Tinubu to use APC ‘Broom’ to sweep out corruption

    The Labour Party faction led by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use the broom—symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—to sweep corruption out of Nigeria.

    Abure made the call in a Christmas message contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Obiora Ifoh.

    He noted that no government could endure or succeed unless corruption is decisively tackled and brought to a standstill.

    According to him, Jesus Christ exemplified corruption-free leadership, as reflected in the scriptures where He exposed a disciple found to be corrupt.

    Abure also urged Nigerians to use the Christmas season to pray fervently for the country, particularly over the prevailing security challenges.

    He commended the gallantry of the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services and other paramilitary agencies for their efforts in maintaining peace during the festive period.

    The Labour Party chieftain further charged President Tinubu to ensure that the military and security agencies are adequately motivated and supported to enable them to continue delivering on their responsibilities.

    Abure added that Nigeria would continue to struggle unless today’s leaders imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness exemplified by the nation’s founding fathers, including Malam Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Malam Aminu Kano, among others.

  • UPDATED: Court orders INEC to accept Labour Party’s candidates for FCT council polls

    UPDATED: Court orders INEC to accept Labour Party’s candidates for FCT council polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to grant the Labour Party (LP) access code to enable it to upload the names and particulars of its nominated candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council election scheduled to hold in February 2026

    INEC is also ordered to upload the names and particulars of the LP’s nominated candidates for the FCT area council election and publish the same at the respective six area councils for public scrutiny within 48 hours pending the hearing of an existing motion on notice filed by the LP.

    Justice J. O. E. Adeyemi-Ajayi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) issued the orders on December 16 while ruling on an ex parte motion for interim injunctions filed by the LP and moved by its lawyer, Christian Elom.

    In a supporting affidavit, the LP stated that it chose to approach the court after INEC allegedly failed to publish the names of its candidates for the February 2026 council elections as required, despite being duly notified.

    A certified true copy (CTC) of the enrolled orders as contained in the ruling on the motion ex parte, marked M/16037/2025, was seen on Thursday.

    The orders read:

    *An interim injunction is hereby granted, directing the defendant (INEC) to grant access code to the claimant/applicant (LP) to upload the names and particulars of its nominated candidates for the FCT area council election scheduled to hold in February 2026 by the defendant within 48 hours pending the hearing of the motion on notice. 

    *An interim injunction is hereby granted directing the defendant to upload the names and particulars of the claimant/applicant’s nominated candidates for the FCT area council election and publish the same at the respective six area councils for public scrutiny within 48 hours pending the hearing of the motion on notice. 

    *This interim injunction is hereby made this day upon application ex-parte which shall abate seven days from today unless extended before the abatement of the order. 

    Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi proceeded to grant an accelerated hearing in the case and adjourned till January 27 next year for the hearing of the motion on notice.

    The LP stated, in its support affidavit, that it gave the notice of its primary elections to the defendant (INEC) within the time frame provided by the law 

    The party added that after its primary elections, and within the 180 days provided by the law, it submitted the list of the candidates who emerged from the primaries it conducted and whom it proposes to support at the election, to INEC, in the prescribed forms. 

     The LP argued that INEC is duty-bound to, within seven days of receipt of the particulars of the candidates, publish the same in the constituency in which the candidates intend to contest the election. 

    The party added that the law mandates the defendant (INEC) to, at least 150 days before the day of the election, publish, by displaying at the relevant office or offices of the defendant, and on the defendant’s website, a statement of the full names and addresses of the candidates standing nominated by the claimant.

    The LP accused INEC of allegedly failing to perform these statutory responsibilities.