The Labour Party has initiated legal proceedings against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, contesting what it perceives as the unjust omission of its candidate from the forthcoming senatorial by-election in Enugu North. The poll is slated for June 20, 2026.
Recall that the seat became available after the death of Senator Okey Ezea, who represented the Labour Party and passed away on November 18, 2025. Following the release of INEC’s schedule for by-elections, the LP formally informed the commission on May 11, 2026, about its plan to hold a primary on May 25, 2026.
During the primary, Ambassador Simon Ejike Eze emerged as the party’s unanimous candidate. However, the party claims that despite satisfying all legal and procedural requirements, it was barred from uploading the candidate’s details onto INEC’s nomination portal.
The party stated, “Despite multiple attempts, including formal complaints and letters to the commission before the submission deadline on June 2, 2026, we could not get the issue resolved.”
According to Ken Eluma Asogwa, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, the party fulfilled every statutory and administrative duty mandated by the Electoral Act and INEC’s regulations concerning candidate nomination.
He added, “It is alarming that the head of Elections and Party Monitoring in Enugu State reportedly refused to forward the party’s primary election report because he was out of town on the day of the exercise and could not monitor it. This justification is unacceptable and raises concerns about the performance of official duties. The Labour Party should not be penalized for an official’s absence, negligence, or incompetence.”
The Labour Party argues that the validity of its primary is not contingent on INEC’s physical presence, as neither the Electoral Act nor INEC’s rules make such presence mandatory. The party insists that it fully complied with the requirement to notify the commission of its primary.
While expressing confidence in INEC’s leadership under Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, the LP calls for an immediate investigation into the actions of INEC staff in Enugu and appropriate disciplinary measures against any erring official.
The party warned, “Depriving the Labour Party of a candidate in an election to fill a seat left vacant by the death of one of its senators would be a grave injustice, undermining the rights of the party and its supporters, and limiting the democratic choices for voters in Enugu North.”