FCT Council Election: Labour Party Accuses Abure Of Forging Nasarawa Court Order

ABUJA – The Nenadi Usman led Labour Party (LP) on Friday accused sacked former national chair­man of the party, Barrister Ju­lius Abure, of alleged forgery of a Nasarawa State High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the list of its candidates for the FCT council elections.

A statement by Senior Spe­cial Adviser, Media, to the Sen­ator Nenadi Usman led Labour Party, Ken Asogwa, said “The timing of this so-called court order’s release to the public is as suspicious as it is mischievous, coming on the eve of nationwide bye-elections.”

Asogwa’s statement is com­ing less than 12 hours after the Julius Abure-led group present­ed a court order asking INEC to upload the names of their can­didates for the affected council poll.

According to Asogwa, the court order presented by Abu­re refers to elections slated for February next year.

He said, “Given Abure’s noto­rious record in matters of forg­ery, this development, if true, would come as no surprise.”

Asogwa’s statement read, “The leadership of the Labour Party is appalled by reports circulating in certain sections of the media alleging that a Nasarawa State High Court granted an interlocutory order – purportedly at the instance of Barrister Julius Abure and his faction – directing the In­dependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload their candidates’ names for the forthcoming FCT Council elections.

“The timing of this so-called court order’s release to the pub­lic is as suspicious as it is mis­chievous, coming on the eve of nationwide bye-elections.

“Even more telling is the fact that the purported order – laugh­able as it is – specifically refers to elections slated for February next year.

“Given Abure’s notorious re­cord in matters of forgery, this development, if true, would come as no surprise.

“Nigerians will recall his criminal manipulation during the 2023 Ebonyi State governor­ship election, an act for which the Attorney-General of the Federation has implicitly direct­ed his prosecution by the police – a charge that still hangs over him like the proverbial sword of Damocles.

“Even if, in the unlikely event, this inconsequential order was genuinely obtained, Abure’s decision to engage in blatant forum shopping – run­ning to a Nasarawa State High Court in a matter over which the Federal High Court has exclu­sive constitutional jurisdiction – underscores the depth of his legal and moral bankruptcy.

“Since INEC is a federal insti­tution established by the Consti­tution, the High Court of Nasar­awa State has no lawful standing in this matter. Such abuse of ju­dicial process ought to attract a stern reprimand from the court against the forum shoppers.

“Meanwhile, Nigerians are not oblivious to the fact that the Supreme Court – the highest court in the land – on 4th April 2025, unequivocally removed Barrister Julius Abure from office in a landmark judgment.

“Yet, Abure and his accom­plices have been shamelessly sustained and emboldened by the APC-led Federal Gov­ernment, enabling them to persist in contempt of court and reckless abuse of judicial processes.”