The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that no subsisting court order exists, compelling it to upload candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.
The commission was responding to claims by the Labour Party (LP).
INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, gave the clarification in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Recall that some LP leaders and supporters had on Monday, protested at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, following allegations of exclusion of the party’s candidates for the election billed for Feb. 21.
The protesters had also called for the issuance of access code to upload LP candidates for the election.
In response, Eta-Messi recalled that the LP had been enmeshed in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024.
According to her, this had culminated in the judgment of the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party) delivered on April 4, 2025.
She noted that in that decision, the apex court held that the tenure of the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.
She said that in spite of the clear pronouncement of court, the Abure-led faction of LP purportedly conducted primaries for the Aug. 16, 2025, by-election nationwide as well as the FCT area council election.
She also recalled 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 on Aug. 15, 2025, dismissing the suit and enforcing the Supreme Court’s position that Abure was no longer recognised as the LP National Chairman and thus upholding the decision of INEC to exclude the LP from the by-election,” she said.
Eta-Messi explained that thereafter, the LP filed multiple suits against INEC in different courts, all seeking orders compelling INEC to grant access code to upload its candidates for the FCT area council election.
According to her, when the matter at the Nasarawa State High Court was stalled, the LP approached the Federal High Court Abuja in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025 seeking orders to compel issuance of the access codes
“The matter was adjourned, after INEC had filed its reply, to Jan. 15, for the hearing of the motion,” she said.
Eta-Messi noted that one would had expected the party to wait for the hearing of the motion, adding that instead, the LP filed another suit at the FCT High Court, Life Camp division, seeking similar relief.
According to her, an order exparte in the latest suit, had granted an interim order on Dec. 16, 2025, directing the commission to upload the names.
“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 on Dec. 23, 2025 and was not extended; Accordingly, there is presently no subsisting Court Order for INEC to act upon,”. she said
Eta-Messi, consequently, reiterated the commission’s commitment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as its regulations and guidelines.
According to her, INEC would continue to hold political parties accountable to democratic standards and the Rule of Law in the conduct of their internal affairs. (NAN)