A chieftain of the Labour Party has dismissed celebrations surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to grant portal access to the Nenadi Usman-led faction, insisting that the development does not confer legitimacy on the group and that the final determination of the party’s leadership dispute rests with the Supreme Court.
In a statement titled, “The Illusion of Victory: Access Code Is Not a Certificate of Legitimacy,” the party stalwart argued that those hailing the development were mistaking a temporary administrative action for a definitive legal victory.
“The recent mockery directed at the Barrister Julius Abure-led Labour Party regarding INEC’s decision to grant an access code to the Nenadi Usman faction is a profound political miscalculation,” the statement read.
The author maintained that history has repeatedly shown that temporary judicial interventions do not necessarily translate into permanent political victories.
“Anyone cheering this development is only celebrating a shadow, mistakenly believing that a temporary administrative act by INEC represents the finality of the law,” he stated.
According to him, the Supreme Court remains the final arbiter in the matter and is yet to review the appeal and pronounce on the dispute.
“The Supreme Court is yet to review the appeal before it and issue a pronouncement. It will be looking at the Constitution and the sacred principle of Labour Party autonomy,” he added.
The statement further argued that political parties are governed by their constitutions and internal processes, stressing that courts should interpret the law rather than impose party leadership structures.
It also cited Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, contending that the provision limits judicial intervention in the internal affairs of political parties.
“The very court orders they currently brandish as their licence to operate are in direct conflict with this provision,” the statement noted.
The party stalwart described INEC’s action as a procedural response to a court order rather than a confirmation of legitimacy.
“INEC only acted upon a court order by granting them the access code. This does not confirm legitimacy until the case in the Supreme Court is settled,” he said.
The statement expressed confidence that the Abure-led camp would ultimately prevail, insisting that the team remains calm and patient while awaiting the apex court’s final verdict.
“They are not shaken. They are not moved by the noise of the market. They are on standby alert, disciplined and patient, knowing that in the architecture of justice, the final word is the only word that matters,” the statement partly read.
The author concluded by cautioning political actors against making far-reaching investments based on what he described as a temporary and uncertain situation.
“An access code is not the final arbiter. The last whistle has not been blown,” he declared.
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