FCT poll: Abure urges INEC to release candidates’ upload code

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to release the access code required for the upload of the party’s candidates ahead of the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

Abure made the appeal on Tuesday during the quarterly consultative meeting between the electoral commission and leaders of registered political parties in Abuja.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

The meeting, which was presided over by the acting INEC Chairman, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, was her first major engagement with party leaders since assuming office following the expiration of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure.
During the session, Agbamuche-Mbu reportedly assured the Labour Party delegation that the commission would “look into the matter,” promising to review the party’s demand for the upload of its FCT candidates.

Accompanied by the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Abure attended the meeting as the recognised national leader of the party — a position recently reaffirmed by the courts after months of internal leadership tussle that had threatened to split the opposition platform.

While congratulating Agbamuche-Mbu on her appointment, Abure commended her leadership style, noting that her legal background would help restore institutional integrity to the commission.
He said, “Once lawyers are on the saddle of leadership, it reduces, and sometimes brings to an end, impunity and injustice to the system. Once lawyers are in charge, institutions are built and democracy continues to grow. This is exactly what has played out in the affairs of the party leadership.”

Abure also lauded INEC for recognising his leadership in line with the court’s pronouncement and urged the commission to act swiftly to enable the Labour Party to participate fully in the FCT polls.

“The party followed due process, issued notices to INEC, conducted primaries and the list is with the INEC. We therefore urge INEC to release the code to us so that we can upload our candidates and join in the ongoing campaign for the Area Council election,” he said.

Expressing optimism about the commission’s future performance, Abure said he believed INEC under Agbamuche-Mbu would “do better, perform better, creditably, effectively, constitutionally and in accordance with the rule of law.”

According to him, such adherence would strengthen democracy and lay the foundation for credible elections in 2027.

The meeting was attended by the national chairmen and secretaries of all 18 registered political parties, alongside INEC national commissioners.