Labour Party takes legal action against electoral commission over claimed snub in Enugu North supplementary poll

The Labour Party has filed a lawsuit with the Federal High Court in Abuja, contesting the alleged unjust exclusion of its candidate from the upcoming Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, scheduled to take place on June 20.

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This development was announced by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, in a statement released on Monday in Abuja, amidst the backdrop of the Enugu North Senatorial District seat being vacated following the death of late Sen. Okey Ezea of the Labour Party on November 18, 2025.

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According to Asogwa, the party is deeply troubled by its denial of access to upload its candidate's particulars on the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) nomination portal, despite fulfilling all statutory requirements and procedural guidelines.

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The party made multiple attempts to resolve the issue, including formal protests and correspondences to INEC, up until the submission window closed on June 2, but these efforts were met with no positive outcome, Asogwa stated.

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Asogwa emphasized that the Labour Party had fulfilled every legal and administrative obligation required under the Electoral Act and INEC's regulations in the nomination of its candidate, leaving the party puzzled about the basis for its exclusion from the election.

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The party's spokesman expressed concern over the head of Elections and Party Monitoring (EPM) in Enugu State, who reportedly justified his refusal to transmit the report of the Labour Party's primary election by citing his absence from town on the day of the exercise.

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This justification was deemed "untenable" by Asogwa, who argued that it raises serious questions about the discharge of official responsibilities and that the party should not be penalized for an official's absence or negligence.

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Asogwa maintained that INEC should have ensured appropriate arrangements were made for monitoring and reporting the exercise if the officer was unavailable, rather than penalizing a political party that had complied with all statutory requirements.

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According to Asogwa, the Electoral Act only requires political parties to notify INEC of their primaries, a requirement that the Labour Party had fully complied with, and the legality of the exercise cannot be invalidated by INEC's absence.

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While expressing confidence in INEC under the chairmanship of Prof. Joash Amupitan, Asogwa called on the commission to investigate the actions of its staff members in Enugu and take decisive action against anyone found culpable.

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Asogwa emphasized that electoral institutions derive their legitimacy from public trust and that every effort must be made to protect the integrity of the electoral process, warning that denying the Labour Party the opportunity to present a candidate would be a grave injustice.

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Such an outcome would undermine the rights of the party and its supporters, as well as diminish the democratic choices available to the people of Enugu North senatorial district in the upcoming by-election, Asogwa argued.

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The Labour Party has placed its confidence in the impartiality and wisdom of the Nigerian judiciary and is urging its members and supporters to remain calm while the matter is being determined by the courts, Asogwa said.