INEC begins audit of Labour Party ahead of 2027 polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday commenced a comprehensive verification exercise at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja, deepening regulatory scrutiny of political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC delegation, led by Mansur Hassan, is tasked with verifying the party’s leadership structure, membership register, financial records and compliance with statutory requirements, including proof of tenancy or ownership of its secretariat.

Addressing party stakeholders and journalists before the exercise began, Hassan outlined the scope of the verification, stressing that the mission goes beyond routine observation.

He said, “We are monitors, not observers. We are here to monitor and correct things, not to observe. We want to verify membership of the party executive and membership of the National Working Committee, as it is contained in your party constitution.

“We would also like to verify your tenancy agreement and receipt (of payment). We would also like to have a soft copy of your membership register. We want to have a look at evidence of the tenancy of this secretariat, the tenancy agreement and receipt of ownership or possession.

“We need to sight the documents and have a copy of each. Again, we are going to divide ourselves into groups to verify what is happening within the party.”

The exercise comes at a critical time for the Labour Party, which has been grappling with internal leadership disputes and efforts to stabilise its structures following months of factional crisis.

In her welcome address, the party’s interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, expressed readiness for the audit and reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to rebuilding the party.

She said, “I know that most people found it difficult to come here today because our congresses are starting tomorrow and all politics is local.

“I have always said the party is not about me, it is not about anybody. We need to build a strong foundation for our party, whatever it takes, we will do it.

“Irrespective of anybody’s feelings or what they think about what we are doing. Without a strong political party, we really cannot make any meaningful progress.”

Usman also used the opportunity to appeal for unity within the party, extending an olive branch to aggrieved factions led by Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa, urging reconciliation ahead of the next electoral cycle.

She said, “For some, I know they will be feeling very bad that those who fought us will be returning because we extended the olive branch to them. But we will continue to invite everybody, even those who are aggrieved, to please come back.

“Let’s work together because we want the party to be the biggest in this country. For us to do that, we need to bring everybody on board. We need all hands on deck to rebuild the party structure.

“Leadership will come and go; nobody can lead forever today. It is my turn today as a leader. After a while, somebody else will come and lead. Leaders will come and go, but the party will remain. About the judgement we got in court yesterday (Tuesday), it is no victor, no vanquished.”

Following her remarks, Usman presented key documents requested by INEC and conducted the delegation round offices and facilities within the party’s secretariat.

The development comes barely 24 hours after INEC concluded a similar verification exercise for the Social Democratic Party, during which it affirmed the party’s leadership after auditing its National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, and financial records.

The exercise forms part of ongoing regulatory checks by the electoral body to ensure that registered political parties comply with constitutional provisions, maintain functional structures across the federation and meet governance standards as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum. It