INEC clarifies Labour Party’s claims on access codes for candidates in 2026 FCT Area Council Polls

*Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission dismisses Labour Party’s legal relief to compel it to grant Access Codes to upload the party’s candidates for the February 21, 2026, FCT Area Council election, stating ‘there is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shed light on the issuance of access codes to upload Labour Party’s candidates for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The INEC said some supporters of the Labour Party (LP) Monday, January 5, protested at the Commission’s Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.

The protesters had complained about the exclusion of their candidates for the FCT Area Council Election scheduled for February 21 this year.

The Commission, in a statement, also noted that the protesters demanded the issuance of access codes to upload the party’s candidates for the upcoming election.

In response, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi

Director of Voter Education and Publicity, in the statement Wednesday, January 7, however, explained that the Labour Party has been enmeshed in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024, which culminated in the judgment of the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party) delivered on 4th April 2025.

According to INEC, in that decision, the Supreme Court unequivocally, held that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.

The statement also noted despite this clear pronouncement, the Abure-led faction purportedly conducted primaries for the August 16, 2025, bye-election nationwide and the FCT Area Council Election.

The Commission stated: “It is also pertinent to recall that the Abure-led faction instituted Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025– Labour Party v. INEC at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the decision of INEC excluding it from participating in the bye-election.

“Judgment was delivered August 15, 2025, dismissing the suit and enforcing the Supreme Court’s position that Barr. Julius Abure was no longer recognised as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, and thus upholding the decision of INEC to exclude the Labour Party from the bye-election.”

The Commission said thereafter, the Labour Party filed multiple suits against INEC in different courts, all seeking Orders compelling INEC to grant an access code for the upload of its candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election scheduled for February 21.

These suits include Suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024 before the Nasarawa State High Court, Akwanga Division.

When the matter at the Nasarawa State High Court got stalled, the Labour Party approached the Federal High Court Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025 seeking an Order compelling INEC to issue Access Codes to its candidates, and the matter is still pending before the Court.

INEC related that Labour Party again, approached the FCT High Court, Jabi Division in another fresh Suit No. CV/4792/2025 and filed a Motion seeking an Order compelling INEC to issue Access Codes to its candidates for the FCT Area Council election.

The matter was adjourned, after INEC had filed its Reply, to 15th January 2026 for the hearing of the motion, it stated.

Mrs. Eta-Messi said one would have expected the Party to wait for the hearing of this motion, but the Labour Party filed another suit in Suit No. CV/4930/2025 before the FCT High Court, Life Camp Division.

The party is seeking the same relief to compel INEC to grant Access Codes to upload its candidates for the FCT Area Council election.

By an Order Exparte in this latest Suit No. CV/4930/2025, the FCT High Court sitting in Life Camp, Abuja granted an interim Order December 16, 2025, directing the Commission to upload the names and particulars of the Labour Party candidates for the FCT Area Council Election.

The Court expressly stated that the Order would lapse after seven days unless extended.

Upon being served with the originating processes, INEC promptly filed its defence, challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the Court.

The interim Order consequently lapsed December 23, 2025, and was not extended.

Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon, noted the statement.

The Director of Voter Education and Publicity as well said as the matter is sub judice, INEC would “continue to respect the sanctity of the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases.

“The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as its Regulations and Guidelines, and will continue to hold political parties accountable to democratic standards and the Rule of Law in the conduct of their internal affairs.”

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