Office of National Youth Leader, LP

https://youtu.be/ZpKL343q-0M?si=7aQXsZzrNmP7NPeU

News Central TV 21 likes, 11 comments. "Labour Party Crisis: Court Removes Abure as Labour Party Chairman"

Date: Tuesday 14th February, 2026.

COMMUNIQUÉ/OPEN LETTER BY THE FORUM OF DULY ELECTED STATE CHAIRMEN OF THE LABOUR PARTY ON THE URGENT NEED TO PRESERVE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STRUCTURES AND THE RULE OF LAW

The Chairman
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory
We, the duly elected State Chairmen of the Labour Party, who emerged from duly conducted and INEC-monitored State Congresses held on the 6th of December 2025 across the Federation, write to the Commission and to the Nigerian public on a matter of grave constitutional and democratic concern.
We are compelled to issue this communiqué in light of credible information available to us suggesting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may be under pressure, or is being influenced, to monitor or recognize a fresh round of so-called “State Congresses” by a faction of the Party that has no legal or constitutional foundation.
Let it be Clear: This is not politics. This is an attempted institutional sabotage.
For the avoidance of doubt:
1. The Ward, LGA and State Congresses of the Labour Party were duly conducted nationwide on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th December 2025 respectively;
2. Statutory notice was issued to the Commission in compliance with Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022;
3. The said Congresses were monitored by INEC pursuant to Section 82(5); and
4. The outcomes of those Congresses are part of the official records of the Commission.
We are therefore not self-appointed actors. We are products of a completed statutory and democratic process duly conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act, monitored by INEC and recognized by law.
Our mandated is rooted in law, not convenience. It cannot be brushed aside, tampered with or replaced by administrative fiat in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act, the INEC Regulations and Guidelines and the Constitution of the Labour Party.
On the 16th February, 2026, INEC decisively rejected the request by Sen. Nenadi Usman to recognize the purported dissolution of duly elected Party structures, on the clear grounds that the action was taken “without giving statutory notice to the Commission and without authority to act under your Party Constitution.”
This position by INEC is unequivocal and remains unchallenged.
Our concern, therefore, is that as at today, there is no evidence whatsoever that the fundamental deficiency identified by INEC—being the lack of constitutional authority to act—has been cured, remedied, suddenly manufactured, lawfully conferred, or validly derived. Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless, contrived, and legally untenable. Consequently, there is no legitimate or constitutional foundation upon which INEC justifiably reconsider and reverse its earlier, unchallenged position or lend credence to the monitoring of any illegal and purported parallel congresses.
One cannot build legality on a foundation already declared defective. Any attempt to proceed on that basis would be a continuation of the same illegality previously indentified and rejected by INEC.
The law is clear and unambiguous:
1. Section 223(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)
Mandates that party leadership must emerge through periodic democratic elections.
2. Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022
Regulates the conduct of congresses and requires:
a. Statutory notice to INEC,
b. Transparency in process,
c. Monitoring by the Commission.
3. COMPLETED CONGRESSES CANNOT BE ADMINISTRATIVELY NULLIFIED
Once congresses have been:
a. Conducted with due notice,
b. Monitored by INEC,
c. And concluded,
They become completed statutory acts. And such processes cannot be set aside:
a. By internal party correspondence,
b. By administrative declaration,
c. Or by factional arrangements.
Consequently, no authority other than a court of competent jurisdiction can nullify congresses duly monitored by INEC. Until and unless such a court so determines, those Congresses—and all the structures emanating and deriving their legitimacy therefrom—remain valid, lawful, subsisting, and fully binding.
Any attempt to conduct or recognize fresh State Congresses while the existing congresses remain valid, and No court order has nullified them would amount to:
1. Duplication of leadership structures,
2. Destabilization of party organization,
3. Undermining of INEC’s own monitored processes
4. Erosion of public confidence in electoral regulation.
It would also raise fundamental questions about the sanctity of INEC-monitored exercises.
We wish to let INEC know that it cannot validate a process today and undermine it tomorrow.
Hence if INEC now turns around to monitor or recognize parallel congresses while its own monitored processes remain valid:
1. It will be seen as a direct contradiction of its own records;
2. It will destroy the credibility of its own oversight and erode public confidence in the Commission;
3. It will send a dangerous signal that lawful processes can be discarded; and
4. It will create chaos in Party administration
Our point is that if a completed, INEC-monitored Congresses can be ignored and replaced, then:
1. No Party structure is safe;
2. No internal democracy is guaranteed; and
3. No electoral process is credible
Today it is Labour Party. Tomorrow it could be any Party.
The national leadership dispute within the Party is presently before the Court of Appeal and INEC is a party to that appeal.

In these circumstances, it is expected that all parties:
1. Exercise restraint,
2. Preserve existing structures,
3. Avoid actions capable of prejudicing or rendering the appeal nugatory.
Proceeding to monitor or recognize fresh congresses at this stage risks altering the subject matter of the litigation.
INEC is not a passive observer. It is a constitutional institution entrusted with:
1. Protecting the integrity of democratic processes,
2. Ensuring compliance with the Electoral Act,
3. Maintaining neutrality and institutional consistency.
To the best of our knowledge INEC is not a rubber stamp for any faction and is obligated to act on:
1. Unlawful requests,
2. Procedurally defective processes,
3. Or politically motivated arrangements inconsistent with law.
INEC’s duty is to:
1. The Constitution
2. The Electoral Act
3. It own records
4. The Nigerian people
We state clearly and unequivocally:
1. The State Congresses of 2nd, 4th, and 6th December 2025 remain valid and subsisting;
2. The leadership structures that emerged therefrom remain lawful;
3. Any parallel congresses conducted without lawful basis will be invalid;
4. Any recognition of such processes will be vigorously challenged.
We most respectfully urge the INEC to:
1. Decline to monitor or recognize any purported fresh State Congresses;
2. Preserve the status quo pending judicial determination;
3. Be guided by its own records of monitored congresses;
4. Uphold the Constitution and the Electoral Act;
5. Resist any pressure inconsistent with its constitutional mandate.
Democracy is not sustained by convenience. It is sustained by consistency, legality, and institutional courage.
If INEC-monitored congresses can be disregarded without judicial intervention, then the entire framework of electoral supervision becomes uncertain.
We believe that the Commission, under its current leadership led by a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will not allow such a precedent to be set.
We remain committed to:
- The rule of law,
- Internal party democracy,
- Peaceful political engagement.
However, we will not hesitate to take all lawful steps to defend the integrity of the democratic process and the validity of the structures that emerged from it.
FORWARD EVER. BACKWARD NEVER.
Signed:

………………………………. Abdurrahim Imam Chindo Secretary, Forum of Elected State Chairmen/NEC Members For and on behalf of the 36 State Chairmen of the Labour Party (LP), Nigeria
CC:
- The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- The President of the Senate
- The Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives
- Inspector-General of Police
- Director-General, DSS
- Chairman, IPAC - Secretary General, United Nations - International Republican Institute (IRI) - Kukah Foundation - Yaga Afrika - All Foreign Missions in Nigeria - All International Election Observers

*OH YEE... DESPERATE NOMADIC POLITICIANS PLANNING TO JUMP INTO NDC, LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP, OR ELSE…*

Recent indications suggest that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a political party reportedly registered on the 5th of February, 2026, is positioning itself to field candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. Very funny.

At first glance, this may appear to offer a convenient refuge for political displaced and party-less actors especially from ADC. But beneth that surface lies a reality that is legally fragile, procedurally defective, and poltically hazardous.

This development raises serious legal, procedural, and constitutional concerns, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of the timetable already released by the INEC, which schedules party primaries to hold between 23rd April and 30th May, 2026.

In the ever-dynamic theatre of Nigerian politics, moments of uncertainty often give rise to hurried decisions, desperate alignments, and opportunistic migrations. The recent predicament surrounding the ADC has, unsurprisingly, triggered a wave of political anxiety. Many actors, now politically displaced or uncertain of their footing, are already scheming to find refuge in the newly registered NDC.

But before those desperate bands of political nomads hastily pitch their tents in unfamiliar territory, a word of caution is not only necessary—it is urgent.

This intervention is therefore not merely advisory, it is a necessary warning grounded in law, precedent, and practical political experience.

1. *THE DANGEROUS ILLUSION OF A QUICK POLITICAL SAFE HAVEN*
At the moment, the NDC may appear to offer a convenient escape route—a fresh platform, unburdened by internal crises, and seemingly open to new entrants. However, this perception is dangerously superficial.

Political parties are not mere vehicles for contesting elections; they are institutions built on structure, legality, and procedural integrity.

As it stands, the NDC, having only been registered on 5th February 2026, is still in its infancy—structurally fragile, administratively untested, and procedurally incomplete.

To assume that such a platform that is currently poaching some LP leaders can seamlessly accommodate nationwide electoral ambitions within weeks is to indulge in political fantasy.

Given that the NDC was only registered on 5th February, 2026, and with primaries commencing barely two months thereafter, it is practically and legally implausible for the party to:
1. Build nationwide democratic structures across the 774 Local Government Areas
2. Constitute valid democratic Ward executives across thousands of wards
3. Compile and submit a credible membership register
4. Conduct lawful and verifiable primaries within INEC guidelines

The compressed timeline makes compliance illusory and unattainable.

The INEC has fixed party primaries between 23rd April and 30th May, 2026. This is not a flexible guideline—it is a binding electoral window.

Within this narrow timeframe, any political party intending to participate must have:
- Democratic and functional Ward, LGA, and State structures
- A verifiable membership register across polling units
- Internal mechanisms for credible and democratic primaries

These are legal imperatives–not cosmetic requirements.

*The unavoidable question therefore is: “Can the NDC, barely weeks after its registration, realistically meet these conditions?”*

*The answer, grounded in both law and experience, is a resounding NO.*

It suffices to state that; Political Party Structures are Not Built Overnight.

*Serious political participation requires time, democratic structure, and consolidation.*

The belief that the NDC can seamlessly absorb nationwide political ambitions and validly contest elections within months of its registration is not a strategy but an illusion.

2. *FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION*
With its registration just in February 2026 and primaries commencing barely two months later, the NDC face an insurmountable structural and legal deficit.

Registration as a political party, though a necessary condition, is not sufficient in itself to guarantee eligibility to participate in elections.

For a political party to validly sponsor candidates, it must, in compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC Regulations:
Establish a democratic and functional structures at Ward, Local Government, State and national levels.

Furthermore, it shall:
Maintain a verifiable membership register rooted in polling units
Conduct valid, transparent, and democratically compliant primaries
Submit candidates within the statutory timelines prescribed by INEC

These are not mere formalities; they are mandatory preconditions.

The points I stated above are not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of logistical impossibilities and legal inevitability.

3. *ESTABLISHED PRACTICE AND ELECTORAL PRECEDENT (2003 – 2019)*
A broader historical review of Nigeria’s electoral evolution confirms that political parties require significant gestation periods before valid participation in general elections.

*(A) Early Fourth Republic Experience (2003 Elections)*

*The PDP*
Registered: 1998
Participated: 1999 & 2003 elections
OBSERVATION: Had over four years of consolidation before the 2003 elections.

*The ANPP*
Registered: 1998
Participated: 1999 & 2003 elections
OBSERVATION: Built strong national structures over several years.

*The AD*
Registered: 1998
Participated: 1999 & 2003 elections
OBSERVATION: Deep regional structuring preceded participation.

*(B) Mid-Transition Parties (2007 – 2011 Elections)*

*The AC*
Registered: 2006
Participated: 2007 elections
OBSERVATION: Benefitted from legacy structures and political realignments, not a fresh, unstructured start.

*The CPC*
Registered: 2009
Participated: 2011 elections
OBSERVATION: Had about two years to organize nationwide before contesting.

*(C) Consolidation Era (2013 – 2015 Elections)*

*The APC*
Registered: 2013 (via merger of ACN, CPC, ANPP, and factions of APGA)
Participated: 2015 elections
OBSERVATION: Despite inheriting structures, still required about two years to consolidate before contesting.

*(D) Expansion of Political Space (2017 – 2019 Elections)*

*The YPP*
Registered: 2017
Participated: 2019 elections
Observation: Approximately two years of preparation.

*The ANN*
Registered: January 2018
Participated: 2019 elections
OBSERVATION: Still had over one year to prepare.

*The ANRP*
Registered: December 2017
Participated: 2019 elections
OBSERVATION: Adequate time for structuring before participation.

4. *CLEAR PATTERN FROM 2003 TO 2019*
Across all electoral cycles, the following pattern is unmistakable:

Political parties:
-Either had several years of existence, or
-Benefitted from pre-existing structures (mergers, alliances, or political networks)

No political party:
-Was newly registered
-Lacked nationwide structures
-And proceeded within weeks or a few months to validly contest general elections

The electoral system is anchored on preparedness, structure, and compliance—not haste.

5. *THE DANGER OF PREMATURE PARTICIPATION*
Allowing a political party without:
-Established democratic grassroots structures
-Verified membership base
-Properly conducted primaries

to participate in a general election would:
-Undermine the integrity of the electoral process
-Encourage electoral irregularities and post-election litigation
-Erode public confidence in democratic institutions

6. *THE POSITION IN LAW*
The law does not compel a newly registered political party to participate in elections within any fixed timeframe. Rather, participation is contingent upon strict compliance with statutory requirements.

Accordingly, a political party that has not democratically established its structures and complied with mandatory preconditions cannot validly sponsor candidates, regardless of its registration status.

From the PDP and ANPP in the early Fourth Republic, to the CPC and later the APC, viable political parties were built over years of organization, negotiation, and structural consolidation.

Even newer parties such as the YPP and the ANN required significant preparatory periods before participating in elections.

None—absolutely none—were conjured into electoral readiness within a matter of weeks or months after its registration.

7. *THE LEGAL LANDMINES AHEAD*
Those rushing into the NDC must understand the grave risks they face:
1. Invalid Primaries: Without proper democratic structures, any primaries conducted may be legally defective and liable to nullification.
2. Candidate Disqualification: Failure to comply with INEC guidelines on membership registers and processes can render candidates invalid ab initio.
3. Post-Election Litigation: Even if candidates manage to get on the ballot, their victories—if any—may be overturned by the courts.
4. Political Wasted Effort: Months of campaigning, resources, and political capital may ultimately amount to nothing.

When these outcomes unfold, they will not be acts of injustice; they will be the inevitable consequences of ignoring clear legal warnings.

In light of the foregoing, it is my considered position that:
The NDC, having been registered only in February 2026, lacks the requisite time and structural capacity to meet the legal requirements for participation in the 2027 general elections.

Any attempt to field candidates under such circumstances would be premature, procedurally defective, and liable to legal challenge.

The law is not sentimental. It does not reward haste—it enforces compliance.

8. *A STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVE: WHY THE LABOUR PARTY STANDS APART*
Amidst this uncertainty, it is important to emphasize that the Labour Party (LP) presently stands as the most viable, structured, and forward-looking platform for politicians who are genuinely committed to building a new Nigeria.

For nearly two years, the Labour Party has endured—and confronted—its own internal challenges, ranging from leadership disputes to acts of sabotage. Unlike newer or less tested platforms, these struggles have not destroyed the party; rather, they have refined it, strengthened its institutions, and clarified its leadership direction.

Today, the Labour Party is not entering turbulence—it is emerging from it.

Today, as those internal issues are reaching resolution, the Labour Party emerges:
- More institutionally stable
- More nationally organized
- More ideologically coherent

In contrast, many other political parties—particularly newer or reconfigured ones—are only just entering their own cycles of internal conflict, uncertainty, and fragmentation.

In effect, while others are just beginning their storms, the Labour Party is coming out of its own—stronger and more prepared.

9. *A WORD TO THE POLITICALLY RESTLESS*
Politics is not an exercise in impulsive migration. It is not a game of musical chairs where one simply jumps from one platform to another in search of immediate relevance. It is a structured, rule-driven enterprise.

Desperation is a poor strategist.

Those who are jumping into NDC today are not making bold moves—they are making fatal miscalculations.

Those who ignore the clear warnings of law, precedent, and practical realities today will have no one else to blame tomorrow when:
- Their candidacies are voided
- Their victories are annulled
- Their political ambitions collapse under the weight of procedural illegality

At the moment the temptation to rush into the NDC is understandable—but it is also profoundly dangerous.

The wiser path for NDC is to:
1. Engage in long-term political planning
2. Align with properly structured platforms
3. Respect the timelines and demands of the law

Anything short of this is not strategy—it is self-sabotage.

Let it therefore be clearly stated: Those who, out of desperation, ignore these realities and plunge headlong into an unprepared political platform do so at their own peril

And when the consequences inevitably unfold, history will record—not injustice—but avoidable political miscalculation.

10. *CONCLUSION: THE RIGHT PLATFORM AT THE RIGHT TIME*
At this defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, the choice of political platform is not merely tactical—it is consequential.

The Labour Party today represents more than just a political party; it embodies a movement, a national aspiration, and a credible vehicle for progressive change. It offers:
- A nationwide structure already in place
- A tested and resilient institutional framework
- A growing base of committed supporters across all demographics
- A clear ideological identity rooted in people-centered governance

For any politician who is sincere, forward-thinking, and desirous of contributing meaningfully to the emergence of a new Nigeria, the path is clear.

1. Do not be seduced by the illusion of convenience. Align with capacity and tested structure
2. Do not gamble with uncertainty. Invest in structure.
3. Do not chase shadows. Stand on solid ground.

The Labour Party is not merely an option—it is, at this moment, the most credible, organized, and future-ready platform available for progressive political engagement.

-The moment demands clarity.
-History is watching and will not remember excuses.
-The consequences are predictable
-The law is uncompromising and will not bend, and
-The courts will not entertain emotions and sentiments.

*My humble advice; look before you leap… or be prepared to fall.*

*Choose wisely, not desperately.*

Prince Kennedy Ahanotu
National Youth Leader
Labour Party (LP)

*OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER, LABOUR PARTY*
20th March, 2026
*SPECIAL EID MUBARAK ✨️ MESSAGE*
I wish to use this medium to congratulate the Islamic youths in Nigeria for the successful completion of the Ramathan season.
I am confident that the Almighty Allah, the most merciful, has received all our supplications and will answer all our prayers in the coming weeks.
As we celebrate, may we always remember that we are the instruments to achieve a better nation as youths. Let us be good and always do good to others. Let us be truthful and always speak the truth at all times. Let us be peaceful and always pursue peaceful coexistence.
Once again, barka da Sallah
Prince Kennedy Ahanotu
National Youth Leader

*OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER, LABOUR PARTY*

20th March, 2026

*SPECIAL EID MUBARAK ✨️ MESSAGE*

I wish to use this medium to congratulate the Islamic youths in Nigeria for the successful completion of the Ramathan season.
I am confident that the Almighty Allah, the most merciful, has received all our supplications and will answer all our prayers in the coming weeks.
As we celebrate, may we always remember that we are the instruments to achieve a better nation as youths. Let us be good and always do good to others. Let us be truthful and always speak the truth at all times. Let us be peaceful and always pursue peaceful coexistence.

Once again, barka da Sallah

Prince Kennedy Ahanotu
National Youth Leader

STATEMENT FROM THE LABOUR PARTY

A message of hope to Nigerians on Ramadan

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to deepen their faith through dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayer, and reflection, fostering self-discipline, compassion, and gratitude while strengthening their connection with God.

But beyond that, Eid, being the last day of the Ramadan is a time for forgiveness, strengthening one's faith, and adopting the values of self-restraint and honesty practiced during Ramadan. It also represents a time of gratitude, spiritual renewal and celebration.

Nigerians have a lot to learn from this holy celebration, particularly as it concerns giving gratitude to God for keeping this nation together in spite of all the centrifugal forces that have threatened to tear us apart.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has continued to face dismembering crisis resulting to economic hardship and political uncertainties, while the insecurity challenges have continued unabated. We in Labour Party are of the opinion that Nigeria needs a socio-economic model of governance which our party has been canvassing for all these while.

A new Nigeria cannot be achieved without the enthronement of self-discipline and greater compassion for the people, both being the important pillars of the Ramadan.

As we celebrate this holy week of Ramadan, we urge the affluent Nigerians, particularly, those in government circle to keep the ordinary Nigerians in their thoughts and programs, not just for today but always. Nigeria with all its human and resource materials should not be talking about multidimensional poverty.

I pray that Almighty Allah will protect our country, our leaders and every Nigeria to witness the prosperity for which divinity has endowed us with.

Happy Mubarak.

Sign:

Barrister Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party

20/03/2026