The Labour Party has concluded its primaries for the June 20, 2026 by-elections, producing former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Simon Ejike Eze, among other candidates for vacant senatorial and legislative seats across the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ken Eluma Asogwa in Abuja.
The statement says the primaries, conducted in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, were peaceful, transparent and largely based on consensus arrangements.
According to the statement, the party’s zonal office in Nasarawa North, Labaran Maku emerged as the Labour Party candidate for the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election after party faithful unanimously affirmed his candidature.
In Enugu North Senatorial District, Ambassador Simon Ejike Eze also secured the party’s ticket through a consensus process described by party officials as rancour-free and widely accepted by members across the district.
Other candidates produced by the party include Mr. Sam Kinanee for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, 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.
It states that the vacancies in Enugu North, Nasarawa North and Rivers South-East Senatorial Districts followed the deaths of the senators representing the constituencies in the current 10th Senate.
It stresses that Senator Okey Ezea of Enugu North reportedly died on November 18, 2025, after a brief illness, while Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa North passed away on December 31, 2025, following a prolonged illness.
The statement adds that Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District, also died on February 18, 2026.
According to the statement, the Ondo South senatorial seat became vacant after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim resigned following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The statement commends INEC for effectively monitoring the primaries and ensuring compliance with electoral guidelines.
It congratulates the successful candidates and urged members, supporters and voters in the affected constituencies to rally behind them ahead of the June 20 by-elections.
According to the statement, the Labour Party remains committed to the principles of social democracy, equal opportunity and social justice, noting that the candidates were carefully selected based on competence, integrity and commitment to the ideals of the party.
