A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the exclusion of Labour Party candidates from the upcoming Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, scheduled for February 21. The court’s decision, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party and its candidates against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Labour Party had argued that INEC unlawfully excluded its nominated candidates from the final list published in September 2025. The party claimed it had written to INEC on September 8 and October 2, 2025, to complain about the exclusion, but the commission failed to respond. The party sought the court’s intervention to prevent its unjust exclusion from the election.
However, Justice Lifu ruled that the case fell under pre-election litigation, which, according to the 1999 Constitution, must be filed within 14 days after the cause of action arose. The court noted that the suit was filed on October 7, 2025, while the cause of action occurred on October 22, 2025, exceeding the stipulated timeframe.
The Labour Party’s exclusion from the election has significant implications for the political landscape of the Federal Capital Territory. The party had hoped to field candidates in the Area Council elections, but the court’s decision has dashed those hopes. The electoral commission’s decision to exclude the Labour Party’s candidates has raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had published its final list of candidates for the Area Council elections, and the Labour Party’s candidates were not included. The party’s logo was also omitted from the manifest of political parties participating in the election. The court’s decision has reinforced the commission’s position, leaving the Labour Party without a legal recourse to participate in the election.
The Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory are scheduled to take place on February 21, and the Labour Party’s exclusion is likely to have a significant impact on the outcome. The party’s supporters and candidates will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds, while the electoral commission and other stakeholders prepare for the upcoming election.
