Lagos Labour Party Challenges INEC Over 2027 Governorship Candidate

The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has challenged the governorship candidate listed for the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 election, insisting that Comrade Lanre Adeleke emerged from its primary held on May 30, 2026.

The party made its position known in a statement signed by its Lagos State official, Comrade Ola Agboola, ahead of a special press conference on the developments surrounding the governorship primary.

According to the Lagos LP, the primary was conducted on May 30 in accordance with the Electoral Act, the Labour Party Constitution and INEC guidelines. INEC’s timetable allowed political parties to conduct primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The party said delegates from the 20 local government areas of Lagos State participated in the exercise, during which Adeleke was unanimously affirmed as the governorship candidate.

It added that party agents, INEC officials, security personnel and members of the media were present at the primary.

However, the Lagos LP said it was surprised to find that the candidate name subsequently published by INEC did not correspond with the person it said emerged from the May 30 exercise.

“It was therefore with deep surprise and concern that we observed the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) bearing a different name from the candidate who was validly elected by our members,” the statement said.

The state chapter said it had activated its internal mechanisms to challenge the development and protect what it described as the mandate given to Adeleke by party members.

It said petitions had been submitted to the party’s National Working Committee, while discussions had also been held with relevant stakeholders in an effort to resolve the dispute.

The party further disclosed that Adeleke had commenced legal proceedings to challenge the development and seek redress.

“This Special Press Conference is convened to set the records straight,” the statement said.

The Lagos Labour Party urged its members, residents of the state and Nigerians to take note of its account of the May 30 primary and the events that followed.

The party also called for what it described as the protection of internal democracy, arguing that the choice of its members should not be undermined by what it characterised as administrative errors or political manipulation.

“We must collectively protect our democracy, defend the sanctity of the ballot, even within parties, and ensure that the voice of the people is not subverted by administrative errors or political manipulations,” the statement said.

The party maintained that it would pursue the matter through peaceful and lawful channels.

“We remain committed to a peaceful, lawful, and democratic resolution,” it said.

INEC has said the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections is scheduled for publication on October 10, 2026.