The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it has not made any decision regarding the ongoing leadership disputes within the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this clarification on Thursday evening through a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi.
This statement was issued in response to media reports claiming that INEC had recognized Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the national secretary of the PDP. INEC described these reports as false and misleading. Oyekanmi explained that the names of the national officers of the Labour Party were previously uploaded to INEC’s official website following a court order, a process unrelated to the recent Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute. Similarly, the listing of the PDP’s national secretary on the website had neither been deleted nor reinstated.
The Supreme Court recently ruled on the Labour Party leadership crisis, effectively ending Julius Abure’s claim to the party’s national leadership. However, INEC emphasized that it is still carefully studying the judgment and will communicate its decision publicly in due course. The commission reiterated its commitment to due process and adherence to the law.
The leadership struggles within both the Labour Party and the PDP have been ongoing, with factional disputes affecting party operations and preparations for upcoming elections. INEC’s neutral stance underscores its role as an impartial arbiter that will only recognize party leadership changes following proper legal and constitutional procedures, aiming to ensure political stability and fairness in Nigeria’s electoral process.
