Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a major demonstration on Monday, converging on the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. Their core demand was the immediate inclusion of the party's candidates in the upcoming Area Council elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026.
Protesters Vow to Occupy INEC Premises
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions like "INEC, Upload Labour Party Candidates", "Obey Court Order", and "No Labour Party in the Ballot, No Council Election in FCT", described their exclusion as a deliberate act of disenfranchisement. They insisted there is a subsisting court order in the party's favour and vowed to remain at the INEC office until the electoral body complies.
Eyisi Okey Nwoke, the Publicity Secretary of the LP in the FCT, addressed the crowd. He asserted that the party's exclusion was a conspiracy stemming from the 2023 presidential election, where the LP's performance in the FCT became a significant constitutional factor. "The genesis of this conspiracy is 2023, when we denied other political parties from making up to 25% in the FCT," Nwoke stated, suggesting this led to a plot to undermine the party's current popularity.
INEC's Response and the Challenge of Conflicting Orders
In response to the demonstration, INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdul Zuru addressed the protesters. He acknowledged the challenges posed by "conflicting court orders" but gave assurances that the commission would act within the confines of the law. "I am here on behalf of the commission to speak to you regarding the court order you have presented. I will personally hand it over to the chairman, and the commission will definitely act on it," Zuru promised.
However, he clarified that the final decision rests with the commission as a collective body, not with him or the Chairman individually. He explained that INEC's occasional delays often stem from navigating contradictory legal directives from different courts.
LP Leaders Insist on Democratic Rights
Princess Licia Igbe, the Chairman of LP in the North Central Zone, emphasized the peaceful and constitutional nature of their protest. "We are Nigerians and we are civilised people. We are here on a civil protest which is our right constitutionally," she said. She warned that INEC's actions could damage democratic trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nwoke further dismissed notions of an internal party crisis in the FCT, calling it a fabrication by detractors. "We don't have factions. They know that in the FCT, it is Labour Party. That is why they have ganged up," he declared, insisting that the party in the territory is united under the leadership of Julius Abure.
The standoff highlights the ongoing tensions between political parties and the electoral umpire regarding compliance with court orders, setting a tense precedent for the forthcoming Area Council polls in the nation's capital.
