Jeremy Corbyn should need the backing of 51 Labour MPs or MEPs to stand in any fresh leadership election, under party rules.
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The ruling will come as a major blow to the majority of Labour’s MPs who are desperate to overthrow the party leader.
Labour Party officials confirmed Eagle had received enough nominations from fellow lawmakers to trigger a challenge, but it was not clear whether Corbyn’s status as party leader meant he automatically qualified for the contest.
Corbyn said he was “delighted” with the NEC’s decision.
All other candidates will have to attain the required number of nominations in order to go forward to the ballot, the statement continued.
However, there was also a setback for Mr Corbyn as the NEC changed some rules for the contest, so people can only vote if they have been a member for at least six months.
Mr Corbyn was elected as leader last September and party members and registered supporters voted for him in large numbers.
“To John McDonnell I said I feared he had decided that people in his part of the party wanted to split the Labour party – and he shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘If that’s what it takes, ‘” he said. Labour leaders are elected on a one-member, one-vote basis.
“All this hate and vile behaviour that’s within the party that’s aimed at Angela for challenging the leadership is a minority”.
Describing the present state of the party, he said: “The vast majority of Labour members and Labour members of parliament have been sitting, like in the back seat of a vehicle, as we are careering towards a cliff and someone has got to wrest the steering wheel off the people who are causing this problem”.
Mr Smith told the Guardian: “And then we should give them another chance”.
The shock vote for Britain to leave the European Union in the June 23 sparked turmoil across the political establishment, with Prime Minister David Cameron stepping down.
Meanwhile, staff at Ms Eagle’s office have begged for an end to the “violence” and “intimidating behaviour” they say she has faced since taking on Mr Corbyn.
But if the national party does break apart, Labour MPs in Wales will have to take sides.
The decision came after concerns that unions could offer reduced memberships to allow Corbyn supporters to vote.
“This legal challenge is very unhelpful and destabilising to the Labour Party”, Watson said this morning.
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The implication is that Corbyn would have an automatic spot on the ballot.
