Politics
Labour Party Crisis Deepens as Abure Moves to Supreme Court After Fresh Defeat
Julius Abure has rejected the judgement of the Court of Appeal Nigeria affirming Nenadi Usman as the legitimate national chairperson of the Labour Party, insisting he will challenge the decision at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The appellate court, sitting in Abuja, dismissed Abure’s appeal and upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which recognised Usman as the party’s leader.
In a unanimous decision delivered by Oyejoju Oyewumi, the three-member panel held that the apex court had already settled the leadership dispute when it nullified the convention that produced Abure as national chairman.
The court also ruled that the Federal High Court acted within its constitutional powers under Section 251 by directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Usman as the party’s national chairperson.
According to the judgement, the caretaker committee led by Usman was validly constituted to fill the leadership vacuum created after Abure’s removal.
The appellate court further described Abure’s suit as lacking merit and an abuse of court process, imposing a fine of N10 million against him.
Abure rejects ruling
Reacting in a statement, Abure described the judgement as unacceptable and contrary to established legal principles.
“We have seen what transpired at the Appeal Court and we want to say very clearly that the judgment is not acceptable to all of us in the Labour Party led by my humble self,” he said.
He argued that party leadership disputes remain internal affairs, adding that his tenure has not expired.
Abure maintained that the March 27, 2024 convention held in Nnewi remains valid and binding.
“That convention is still subsisting for four years, and the court did not take that into consideration before arriving at its conclusion,” he added.
He also faulted the meeting held in Umuahia which produced the caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional.
“It is only the National Chairman and National Secretary who have the power to convene an NEC meeting,” he said.
Move to Supreme Court
Abure reiterated that his faction would exhaust all legal options to reclaim the party leadership.
“We have put our legal team together and we are going to file an appeal and move to the Supreme Court,” he stated.
The leadership crisis within the Labour Party has continued to generate legal battles, with conflicting claims over the party’s structure ahead of future electoral contests.
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