The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified its decision not to release access codes to the Labour Party for the upload of candidates’ names ahead of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Ewa-Messi, said the decision was taken because the party is still grappling with an unresolved leadership crisis.
According to the Commission, the prolonged internal dispute has spilled into the courts, with multiple cases pending, making it difficult for INEC to recognise a legally valid leadership structure.
INEC explained that issuing access codes under such circumstances could amount to taking sides in an internal party conflict, a move the Commission said it must avoid to maintain neutrality and comply with the law.
The electoral body stressed that only parties with clear and uncontested leadership recognised by law can be granted access to its nomination portal.
The clarification followed a protest by supporters of the Labour Party at INEC headquarters in Abuja, where demonstrators accused the Commission of deliberately excluding the party from the forthcoming area council polls.
The protesters demanded that INEC immediately provide the access codes required for uploading the names of the party’s candidates.
However, INEC maintained that its actions were guided strictly by existing legal frameworks and court pronouncements. The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent and credible election, while urging political parties to resolve internal disputes in line with the law to avoid disenfranchisement.
The FCT Area Council elections are scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026, with political parties required to complete all nomination processes within timelines set by the electoral umpire.
