- Abure’s camp also alleged procedural irregularities in the handling of the case
- Justice Lifu had, in his ruling, ordered INEC to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee
- The party also rejected the court’s conclusion that Abure’s tenure had expired
The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party escalated on Wednesday as embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, openly rejected the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Abure, through a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described the judgment as flawed and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal, insisting it contradicts the April 2025 decision of the Supreme Court on the party’s leadership dispute.
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The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ruled that Abure’s tenure had elapsed and consequently ordered INEC to recognise the caretaker committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman, pending the conduct of a national convention.
Reacting to the verdict, the Abure-led National Working Committee maintained that the court misapplied the Supreme Court’s position and ventured into matters that remain the internal affairs of the party. The leadership said it was yet to obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment but stressed that available details already justified an appeal.
“From the brief information at our disposal, it is clear that the party will appeal this judgment. Our position will be even stronger once we study the Certified True Copy,” the statement said.
Abure’s camp also alleged procedural irregularities in the handling of the case, claiming the matter took a questionable turn after being reassigned from one judge to another. According to the party, the reassignment raised concerns about the fairness of the process even before judgment was delivered.
The leadership further accused the court of denying it fair hearing, alleging that it was not allowed to respond to issues raised in a counter-affidavit before the case was adjourned for judgment.
It also claimed that the outcome of the case appeared predetermined, citing what it described as premature celebrations by its opponents on social media weeks before the ruling.
Questioning the substance of the judgment, the Abure faction argued that the court contradicted earlier judicial pronouncements by declaring a caretaker leadership for the party. It recalled that both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had previously cautioned against courts appointing or recognising party leaderships, describing such issues as internal matters.
The party also rejected the court’s conclusion that Abure’s tenure had expired, insisting that no leadership vacuum existed. It argued that the Supreme Court never declared its tenure expired but merely declined jurisdiction because the matter was internal.
Defending the March 2024 national convention, the leadership maintained that the exercise was conducted before the expiration of the executive’s tenure, insisting it lawfully produced the current leadership of the party.
Describing the court’s conclusion as “laughable,” the party queried how a vacuum could be declared without interrogating the legality of the convention that produced the leadership.
While urging members to remain calm, the Abure-led faction vowed to exhaust all legal options, warning that the party’s leadership was “not for sale” and would not surrender under pressure.
Justice Lifu had, in his ruling, ordered INEC to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, holding that the committee constituted by the party’s National Executive Committee remained the only valid authority to act for the Labour Party pending a national convention.
The dispute followed an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, hosted by Governor Alex Otti and chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where the NEC resolved to remove Abure and set up a 29-member caretaker committee with Senator Nenadi Usman as chairperson.
Abure subsequently approached the Federal High Court seeking validation of his continued stay in office, setting the stage for the deepening legal and political battle within the Labour Party.
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