Labour Party(LP) candidate Christian Omofoma is accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately excluding him from the ballot in what he described as a violation of democratic principles and a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership.
This is happening less than two weeks to the Edo Central Senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16
Omofoma, who was speaking during a televised interview on Saturday, said the Labour Party duly conducted its primaries in accordance with INEC guidelines and submitted the necessary documentation within the legal window.
However, INEC has declined to upload his name or those of other Labour Party candidates for by-elections nationwide, citing a pending legal interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling delivered in April 2025.
“It’s very sad. The party followed the process, notified INEC, and held primaries that complied with the law. Yet, INEC is claiming it has no candidate from Labour Party. That’s why we’re now in court again, and we’re hopeful the federal high court will rule in our favour before the 12th,” Omofoma said.
According to him, the leadership tussle within the party—between factions loyal to Julius Abure and those supporting Senator Ladi Usman—should have been settled by the April 4 Supreme Court judgment, which struck out the Abure faction’s appeals and upheld the party’s internal decision-making authority.
Joining him on the programme, legal practitioner Prince Wayne Elijah supported Omofoma’s claims, insisting that the Supreme Court judgment was clear and unambiguous in nullifying Abure’s claim to the Labour Party leadership.
“The Supreme Court set aside all judgments in favour of the Abure faction and even struck out their cross-appeal. It acknowledged the Usman-led caretaker committee, and that recognition is legally binding,” Elijah said.
INEC, however, maintains that the matter is still sub judice and that the commission cannot act until it receives clear legal clarification. The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told Arise News earlier that the commission would refrain from commenting since the case is before the courts.
But Labour Party leaders are not buying that explanation.
“It’s unacceptable that our candidates were excluded from the INEC portal after we fulfilled all legal obligations. We’ve written to them to demand answers,” said Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party.
INEC’s website currently lists Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party—a point Omofoma strongly disputes, arguing that even Ifoh’s own status in the party expired and was extended only temporarily in 2023.
He added that the widely referenced convention held in Nnewi by the Abure faction was illegitimate as it failed to follow the grassroots processes required by the party’s constitution.
“There were no ward, LGA or state congresses before the convention. That’s not how a national convention is formed. It was a gathering of friends and loyalists—not a legitimate party process,” he said.
Omofoma is continuing his campaign regardless, banking on a swift court judgment to compel INEC to upload his name before the August 16 deadline.
“The people of Edo Central voted for me in 2023, and they will vote again. INEC must not deny them that right. Nigeria’s democracy is still growing, and the world is watching,” he warned.
As the countdown to the by-election continues, the legal decision in the coming days could determine whether the Labour Party appears on the ballot—and whether internal disputes within political parties will continue to affect electoral representation.