Is Nigeria’s Democracy on Trial? INEC Must Obey Supreme Court Ruling on Labour Party

By Dr. Michael Omoruyi | iNewsAfrica | May 19, 2025

In a constitutional democracy like Nigeria’s, the authority of the Supreme Court must never be subjected to political interpretation or selective compliance. The recent verdict nullifying Julius Abure’s claim to the Labour Party chairmanship should not be a matter of debate—it is a binding legal directive. Yet, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appears to be dithering in its response. This is a dangerous precedent that undermines both the judiciary and the rule of law.

The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirmed a fundamental truth: political parties must resolve internal disputes through the structures laid out in their constitutions. Any claim to leadership that bypasses these internal mechanisms cannot stand. In this case, the court held that Abure’s recognition by lower courts was legally flawed and without jurisdiction. The verdict did not just question the process—it voided it entirely.

What then is INEC waiting for?

INEC’s constitutional role is not to reinterpret judicial rulings, but to implement them. Its failure—or hesitation—to immediately act on the Supreme Court’s decision is not only a dereliction of duty; it risks eroding public trust in Nigeria’s fragile democracy. As the umpire of our electoral system, INEC must be impartial and law-abiding, not politically convenient.

Delays in enforcing this verdict further sow division and confusion within the Labour Party. They give room for factionalism to fester, and worse, signal that court orders are open to bureaucratic delay tactics. In a country battling deep political distrust and electoral skepticism, such foot-dragging by INEC is unacceptable.

Let us be clear: upholding the Supreme Court’s decision is not a favor to one political faction—it is an obligation to all Nigerians who believe in the sanctity of our democratic institutions. INEC must rise above politics and reaffirm its allegiance to the Constitution. Anything less is a betrayal of its mandate and a grave insult to the Nigerian people.

The court has spoken. It is time for INEC to act—not tomorrow, not next week—NOW.

Dr. Michael Omoruyi is a political analyst and contributing columnist to iNewsAfrica, where he writes on democracy, governance, and justice across the continent.