INEC's Exclusion of Labour Party Candidates Ignites Public Outcry, Questions Democracy's Integrity
With just weeks to Nigeria’s crucial August 16 bye-elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under intense scrutiny following its controversial decision to exclude Labour Party (LP) candidates from the ballot—an action many analysts have described as an alarming threat to democratic fairness. Among those affected is Adewale Michael Adesanya, the Labour Party candidate for the Remo Federal Constituency, who was duly nominated on July 19, 2025, but whose name was omitted from the final list of cleared contestants. The commission cited unresolved internal disputes within the party as grounds for the disqualification, a justification the party’s leadership and several civil society actors have fiercely rejected. “This is not just about me—it’s about the people whose voices risk being silenced,” said Adesanya. “Our campaign has always been rooted in community, youth inclusion, and policy-driven transformation. We will seek legal redress and ensure this injusti...