- The recognition further deepens the ongoing leadership tussle within the Labour Party
- Justice Lifu noted that materials before the court showed that Abure’s tenure had elapsed
- However, the Abure-led faction has rejected the judgment and announced plans to challenge it at the appellate court
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the Labour Party (LP) National Working Committee (NWC) led by Nenadi Usman, following a subsisting court order.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that INEC’s official website, checked on Friday, lists Usman as the chairperson of the party’s caretaker committee.
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Other members recognised by the commission include Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary, Hamisu Santuraki as National Treasurer, Aisha Madije as National Financial Secretary, and Eric Ifere as National Legal Adviser.
The recognition further deepens the ongoing leadership tussle within the Labour Party, one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties.
On January 21, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja affirmed the Usman-led NWC and removed Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman. Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling, relied on an earlier Supreme Court verdict which upheld Nenadi Usman as the authentic leader of the Labour Party.
The court subsequently directed INEC to recognise the Usman-led NWC as the party’s legitimate authority pending the conduct of its next national convention.
Justice Lifu noted that materials before the court showed that Abure’s tenure had elapsed, making the formation of a caretaker committee unavoidable.
While describing the matter as an internal party issue, the judge maintained that the caretaker arrangement was a direct consequence of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
However, the Abure-led faction has rejected the judgment and announced plans to challenge it at the appellate court.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Obiorah Ifoh described the ruling as contradictory, arguing that the Supreme Court had clearly held that courts lack the power to appoint leaders for political parties.
He also claimed that previous decisions of the Court of Appeal had recognised Abure’s NWC as the party’s legitimate leadership.
The leadership crisis within the Labour Party traces back to the aftermath of the 2023 general election, where the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, secured over six million votes nationwide.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, Obi has since pitched his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while the Labour Party appointed Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as its national leader.
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