Labour Party says INEC locked it out. Now the court will decide.
The party has filed suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging INEC’s refusal to accept its candidate for the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election slated for June 20, 2026.
The seat became vacant after LP Senator Okey Ezea died on Nov 18, 2025. Labour Party argues it has “legitimate and undeniable stake” in the poll.
–The complaint: “Portal closed on us”–
LP National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa said the party met all legal and procedural requirements. But INEC’s nomination portal refused to upload their candidate’s details.
“Up until the close of the submission window on June 2, the party made several efforts, including formal protests and correspondences to the commission… these efforts yielded no positive result,” Asogwa stated.
–The INEC excuse LP calls “untenable”–
The drama: LP says INEC’s Head of Elections & Party Monitoring EPM in Enugu refused to transmit the report of LP’s primary. Reason given? “He was out of town on the day the exercise was conducted.”
LP’s response: “Labour Party cannot be made to suffer the consequences of an official’s absence, negligence, incompetence or dereliction of duty. Electoral processes… cannot be subjected to the convenience of individual officers.”
–LP’s legal argument–
1. Electoral Act only requires parties to notify INEC of primaries — which LP did.
2. INEC’s physical presence is NOT a mandatory condition for a valid primary.
3. If the EPM officer was unavailable, INEC should have made alternative arrangements.
–What LP wants–
Restoration of its right to contest. Asogwa warned: “It would amount to a grave injustice for Labour Party to be denied the opportunity… in an election convened to fill a vacancy created by the death of one of its serving senators.”
The party says it still has confidence in INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, but is asking him to probe Enugu officials and punish anyone culpable.
–Next: Court decides and voters wait–
With the by-election 12 days away, the judiciary now holds LP’s ballot chances. LP is urging members in Enugu North to “remain calm” while the case is determined.
Portal error or deliberate exclusion? The court file will tell.
