The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against accepting any candidate put forward by the rival Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) for the 2025 Anambra governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led LP, Obiora Ifoh, insisted that any attempt by the Usman-led group to conduct a fresh primary election would be considered null and void. According to him, the Labour Party had already concluded its governorship primaries in Anambra State and submitted the name of its duly elected candidate to INEC, in line with the commission’s electoral timetable and guidelines.
“For clarity, the Labour Party has completed its primaries in Anambra, and the name of the winning candidate has been duly submitted to INEC,” Ifoh stated. “Any parallel primaries held by unauthorized individuals or groups do not represent the position or decisions of the party.”
This rebuttal follows the announcement by the Nenadi Usman-led NCC during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. The committee declared plans to revisit and possibly re-conduct the Anambra governorship primary, promising to brief party members after its internal review.
However, the Abure-led leadership dismissed this move as illegitimate and disruptive, reaffirming that George Moghalu emerged as the Labour Party’s flagbearer for the upcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in a transparent primary held on April 5, 2025. Moghalu secured a sweeping victory with 573 delegate votes, defeating his opponent, Chuma Nwosu, who garnered only 19 votes.
Ifoh further explained that the entire process adhered to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines. “We issued the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC, conducted the primaries under INEC supervision, and have presented the certificate of return to our candidate. Everything was done transparently and lawfully.”
INEC had previously set April 10, 2025, as the deadline for all political parties to conclude their primaries for the Anambra election, as stipulated in Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act. The Labour Party claims to have fully complied with these regulations and has warned against any attempt to undermine the concluded process.
“The Labour Party leadership will not tolerate any act of sabotage aimed at derailing the democratic process. Any individual or group found guilty of sowing discord or violating party directives will face appropriate disciplinary measures,” Ifoh warned.
He called on members of the public, party faithful in Anambra, and advocates of good governance to rally behind the LP’s candidate, emphasizing that the state is in urgent need of rescue from what he described as “the current crisis of governance.”
“Among all the contenders, our candidate stands out in terms of competence, experience, and integrity, with a proven record of service in both the private and public sectors,” the statement concluded.
