The Labour Party has distanced itself from a protest slated for Wednesday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, labelling the organisers as “impostors” and “political impersonators”.
In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party clarified that it has no connection with the proposed demonstration.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to be held on August 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party.
”We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party.
The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party,” the statement partly read.
The party cautioned that any individual taking part in or supporting the protest does so independently and must be regarded as an “impostor”.
“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor,” it added.
The statement also cited INEC’s recent rejection of a candidate list submitted by former chairman Julius Abure and his faction for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council polls.
“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC, as a responsible electoral umpire, would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party,” the statement added.
It urged the commission to uphold the ruling of the Supreme Court, delivered on April 4, 2025, which confirmed that Abure’s tenure ended on June 8, 2023.
“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired since 8th June 2023, and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgement of April 4, 2025,” the party stated.
The Labour Party further called on INEC to upload and publish the correct list of candidates submitted by the current leadership, and to update its official platforms to reflect the valid court-backed leadership structure.
In conclusion, the party appealed to security agencies to take action against the protest organisers.
“In light of the foregoing, we therefore call on all security agencies to take note: the persons planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on 6th August 2025 are not representatives of the Labour Party.
They are political impersonators and mischief-makers and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law,” the statement read.