The Labour Party has concluded its primary elections ahead of the June 20, 2026 by-elections, producing candidates for key senatorial, federal and state legislative contests across the country, with former Information Minister Labaran Maku and veteran diplomat Ambassador Simon Ejike Eze among the major figures emerging from the exercise.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the Labour Party said the primaries were conducted in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for by-elections aimed at filling vacant seats across affected constituencies.
According to the party, Maku secured the Labour Party ticket for the Nasarawa North Senatorial District through a consensus process conducted at the party’s zonal office, where supporters and party members reportedly turned out in large numbers to affirm his candidacy.
Similarly, Ambassador Simon Ejike Eze emerged as the party’s flagbearer for Enugu North Senatorial District through what the party described as a peaceful and consensus-based process.
Other candidates produced by the party include Engr. Sam Kinanee for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barrister Ige Aiyeobasan Asemudara for Ondo South Senatorial District, Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad for Dawaki Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Muhammad Aliyu Galadima for the Zuru State Constituency by-election in Kebbi State.
The by-elections follow vacancies created by deaths and political appointments that altered the composition of the current legislature. Seats in Enugu North, Nasarawa North and Rivers South-East became vacant following the deaths of the senators representing the districts.
The Labour Party recalled that Senator Okey Ezea of Enugu North died in November 2025 after a brief illness.
The party noted that he remained “the only elected office holder in Enugu State elected on the platform of the Labour Party who stayed faithful to the party despite the wave of defections that affected the party last year.”
Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa North died on December 31, 2025 after a prolonged illness, while Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East, passed away in February 2026.
In Ondo South, the vacancy emerged after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim resigned his legislative seat following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The party also praised INEC for supervising the exercise, stating that the primaries were conducted “peacefully, transparently and successfully across the affected constituencies.”
“The party congratulates all the successful candidates and calls on its members, supporters and lovers of democracy in the affected districts and constituencies to rally behind them in the June 20 by-elections,” the statement read.
It added that the candidates were selected based on “proven competence, integrity and commitment to the ideals of the party.”
The emergence of consensus candidates may help the Labour Party avoid internal disputes and litigation often associated with contentious primaries.
However, the June 20 by-elections could also serve as a fresh test of the party’s political strength after months of internal turbulence, defections and leadership tensions.
