Labour Party Names Maku, Eze and Others for June 20 By‑Election Candidates

By John Alechenu

The Labour Party (LP) has completed its primaries for the by‑elections scheduled for 20 June, selecting candidates for vacant seats in Nasarawa North, Enugu North, Rivers South‑East, Ondo South, and two additional constituencies.

The primaries, held on Monday across the affected states, followed the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the polls.

National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa announced the results in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, “In Nasarawa North, former Minister of Information Labaran Maku emerged as the party’s candidate through a consensus arrangement. The exercise at the party’s zonal office drew a large turnout of members who affirmed his candidacy for the senatorial district by‑election.”

“Similarly, in Enugu North Senatorial District, seasoned diplomat Amb. Simon Ejike Eze was picked as the party’s flag‑bearer through a peaceful consensus process. Party members from across the district turned out to endorse his candidature.”

Other candidates chosen through consensus include Engr. Sam Kinanee for Rivers South‑East Senatorial District, Barrister Ige Aiyeobasan Asemudara for Ondo South Senatorial District, Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad for the Dawaki Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Muhammad Aliyu Galadima for the Zuru State Constituency by‑election in Kebbi State.

The seats for Enugu North, Nasarawa North and Rivers South‑East became vacant following the deaths of the senators representing those districts in the 10th Senate. Ondo South became vacant after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim resigned from his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Senator Okey Ezea of Enugu North died in a Lagos hospital on 18 November 2025, aged 62. Senator Godiya Akwashiki of Nasarawa North passed away on 31 December 2025, aged 52, while Senator Barinada Mpigi of Rivers South‑East died on 18 February 2026, aged 64.

The Labour Party praised INEC for monitoring the primaries, describing the exercise as peaceful, transparent and successful across the constituencies.

It congratulated the successful candidates and urged members, supporters and lovers of democracy in the affected areas to rally behind them ahead of the 20 June polls.

The party said it selected candidates with proven competence, integrity and commitment to its ideals of social democracy, equal opportunity and social justice.

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