INEC Explains Refusal to Issue Access Codes to Labour Party for FCT Area Council Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified why it refused to provide the Labour Party (LP) with access codes to upload candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election, stressing that no valid court order currently compels it to do so. The election is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday signed by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the commission said the explanation follows a protest by Labour Party supporters at INEC headquarters in Abuja on January 5, 2026, where they complained about being excluded from the election and demanded access codes.

INEC attributed the controversy to the Labour Party’s prolonged internal leadership crisis, noting that:

“The Labour Party has been enmeshed in prolonged internal leadership disputes since 2024, which culminated in the judgment of the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025 (Usman v. Labour Party) delivered on 4th April 2025. The Supreme Court unequivocally held that the tenure of the Barr. Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee had expired.”

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the Abure-led faction reportedly conducted primaries for the August 16, 2025, bye-election and the FCT Area Council Election, prompting legal confrontations with INEC. The commission recalled that the faction challenged its exclusion in Federal High Court Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1523/2025, which was dismissed on August 15, 2025, upholding INEC’s position.

INEC noted that the Labour Party subsequently filed multiple suits seeking access codes for the FCT election, including:

• Suit No. NSD/LF.84/2024 before the Nasarawa State High Court, Akwanga Division.
• Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2110/2025, which is still pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
• Suit No. CV/4792/2025 at the FCT High Court, Jabi Division, alongside a motion seeking an order for access codes.

The commission explained that although an interim ex parte order was granted in Life Camp Suit No. CV/4930/2025 on December 16, 2025, directing INEC to upload the Labour Party candidates, the court stated the order would lapse after seven days unless extended. INEC promptly challenged the order, and it lapsed on December 23, 2025, leaving no subsisting court order.

“Given that the matter is sub judice, INEC will continue to respect the sanctity of the judicial process and await the final determination of the pending cases,” the commission said.

INEC reiterated its commitment to due process, the Constitution, and electoral law, affirming that it will continue to hold political parties accountable to democratic standards and the Rule of Law in managing their internal affairs.

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