Federal High Court Delivers Final Ruling on Labour Party's Exclusion from FCT Council Polls
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a definitive judgment that upholds the exclusion of Labour Party candidates from the upcoming Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory. Justice Peter Lifu delivered this significant ruling on Wednesday, effectively barring the party from participating in the February 21 polls that will determine local government leadership across the nation's capital.
Court Rules Labour Party's Legal Challenge as Statute-Barred
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025, Justice Lifu firmly rejected the Labour Party's attempt to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept or publish their list of candidates for the FCT Area Council elections. The judge determined that the party's legal action was statute-barred because it was filed outside the mandatory 14-day period allowed by Nigerian electoral law after the cause of action arose.
"Electoral matters are governed by strict timelines," Justice Lifu explained in his ruling, emphasizing that failure to approach the court within the legally prescribed period deprives the judiciary of jurisdiction to entertain such cases. This legal principle proved decisive in the court's decision to dismiss the Labour Party's petition entirely.
Labour Party's Arguments and INEC's Position
The Labour Party and its candidates had approached the Federal High Court to challenge INEC's decision to exclude them from participating in the FCT Area Council elections. Their legal team presented several arguments:
- The party claimed their candidates were duly nominated through proper internal processes
- They argued they were unlawfully excluded when INEC published the final list of contestants in September 2025
- The plaintiffs complained that the Labour Party's logo was omitted from the list of political parties authorized to participate in the elections
According to court documents, the Labour Party had written to the INEC Chairman on September 8, 2025, and sent a follow-up reminder on October 2, 2025, protesting their exclusion from the electoral process. The party reported receiving no response from the electoral body, prompting their judicial intervention.
The plaintiffs urged the court to intervene, arguing that without judicial relief, they would be unfairly barred from fielding candidates in the upcoming FCT council polls. However, Justice Lifu ultimately agreed with INEC's position that the legal action was filed outside the time allowed by law, leading to the complete dismissal of the suit.
Broader Implications for Labour Party's Political Standing
This ruling represents another significant setback for the Labour Party, which has been experiencing internal turmoil and leadership challenges. The court's decision comes amid other legal developments affecting the party, including:
- The Federal High Court in Abuja recently sacked Julius Abure as Labour Party national chairman
- The court ordered INEC to recognize the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the party's legitimate authority
- Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing Abuja at the National Assembly, recently defected from Labour Party to ADC
These developments highlight the broader organizational challenges facing the Labour Party as it navigates Nigeria's complex political landscape. The exclusion from FCT Area Council elections represents not just an electoral setback but also reflects deeper institutional issues within the party structure.
The February 21 FCT Area Council elections will now proceed without Labour Party participation, potentially reshaping the political dynamics in Nigeria's capital territory. This ruling reinforces the importance of strict adherence to electoral timelines and procedures in Nigeria's democratic process, setting a precedent for future electoral disputes.
