Introduction to the Protest
Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a protest on Monday at the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the inclusion of their candidates in the upcoming Area Council elections in Abuja, scheduled for February 21. The protesters described the exclusion as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the party, despite a subsisting court order in its favour.
The Protest and Demands
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “INEC, Upload Labour Party Candidates”, “Obey Court Order”, and “No Labour Party in the Ballot, No Council Election in FCT.” They vowed to occupy INEC’s premises until the commission complied with the order. The Publicity Secretary of LP in FCT, Eyisi Okey Nwoke, during the protest, insisted that Julius Abure is the recognised national chairman of the Labour Party.
Addressing the Protesters
Addressing the protesters, INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdul Zuru acknowledged the challenges posed by “conflicting court orders” but assured them that the commission would act in accordance with 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,” he said.
The Crisis in Labour Party
Nwoke said the crisis in LP was also contrived by detractors to support a gang of wanderers. “They want to wander into Labour Party. To spoil our party and we resisted it and chased them out. So we don’t have factions. They know that in the FCT, it is Labour Party. Nothing for any political party. It’s Labour Party. That is why they have ganged up.” The Chairman of LP in the North Central Zone, Princess Licia Igbe, said INEC must comply with the court order.
Compliance with Court Order
She said, “We are actually not causing any uproar, we are Nigerians and we are civilised people. We are here on a civil protest which is our right constitutionally to the INEC. We are demanding what is due to us as members of the Labour Party in the FCT. We are here demanding that we should be uploaded because we have a court order concerning the FCT elections coming up on February 21, 2026 and Labour Party candidates are not on the ballot. In fact, they are not uploaded and we don’t know the reason why INEC should disenfranchise Labour Party.”
The Role of INEC
The Spokesperson of the LP in the FCT said as a commission, INEC has never disregarded or disobeyed any court order. Nwoke said, “We will always obey court order and that is why more often than not you see on our portals compliance with court orders. Some of the challenges you normally have been due to conflicting court orders. Those are what normally creates problems. When you have conflicting court orders you just have to act on the prevailing court order.”
Conclusion
The protest by the Labour Party in the Federal Capital Territory is a call to action for the Independent National Electoral Commission to comply with the court order and include the party’s candidates in the upcoming Area Council elections. The party’s insistence on being uploaded to the ballot is a testament to their commitment to democratic principles and their right to participate in the electoral process. It remains to be seen how INEC will respond to the protesters’ demands and whether the commission will act in accordance with the law.
FAQs
- Q: What is the reason for the Labour Party’s protest at the INEC headquarters?
A: The Labour Party is protesting the exclusion of their candidates from the upcoming Area Council elections in Abuja, despite a subsisting court order in their favour. - Q: What are the protesters demanding?
A: The protesters are demanding that INEC comply with the court order and upload the Labour Party’s candidates to the ballot. - Q: What has INEC said in response to the protest?
A: INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdul Zuru has acknowledged the challenges posed by conflicting court orders and assured the protesters that the commission will act in accordance with the law. - Q: What is the significance of the protest?
A: The protest highlights the importance of democratic principles and the right of political parties to participate in the electoral process. It also underscores the need for INEC to act in accordance with the law and comply with court orders.
