Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Labour Party wishes to categorically state that it successfully completed the upload of the names of all its duly nominated candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections ahead of the closure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal on 14th July, 2026. This was contained in a statement signed by Ken Eluma Asogwa, National Publicity Secretary, Labour Party.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to media reports in certain quarters alleging that the Party failed to upload the names of its Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates before the expiration of the INEC deadline. This claim is patently false, misleading, and exists only in the imagination of the purveyors of that fake news.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Labour Party successfully uploaded the names of its Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates on 10th July, 2026, four clear days before the close of the INEC nomination window on 14th July, 2026. The process was completed seamlessly and in full compliance with the Commission’s guidelines.
“It is, however, disturbing that a media organisation would publish such a weighty and misleading report without making the slightest effort to verify the information with the leadership of the Labour Party, particularly when the story was purportedly sourced from an anonymous INEC official. This raises legitimate questions about the professional responsibility of the media organisation concerned and whether the publication was intended to serve some ulterior political objective rather than the public interest.
“In any event, INEC has already published its timetable for the release of the final list of validly nominated candidates for the 2027 General Elections. Once the Commission makes the publication, Nigerians will clearly see the names of all duly nominated candidates of the various political parties, including those of the Labour Party, thereby putting this baseless misinformation to rest.
“We therefore urge our teeming members, supporters, and the general public to disregard the fake report in its entirety. It bears all the hallmarks of idle beer parlour gossip masquerading as journalism. Those who have become unsettled by the renewed strength, growing acceptance and increasing momentum of the Labour Party should channel their energies into preparing for the electoral contest ahead rather than resorting to crude propaganda, and discredited tactics.
“This latest attempt has collapsed under the weight of the facts, like a pack of cards, ” it also added.
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