In a significant ruling for the Labour Party (LP), the Supreme Court of Nigeria has removed Julius Abure from his position as national chairman and officially recognized Nenadi Usman as the rightful leader. This decision comes as a response to the internal disputes surrounding the leadership of the party, reinforcing the principle that such matters should be resolved internally rather than through judicial means.
In a unanimous decision delivered yesterday by a five-member panel, the apex court found that the Court of Appeal did not have the jurisdiction to affirm Abure’s chairmanship. The justices emphasized that the essence of the case revolved around internal party affairs – an area where the courts traditionally refrain from intervening.
This ruling effectively nullifies the earlier decision made by the Court of Appeal, which had, in January 2025, recognized Abure as the national chairman in a unanimous judgment. That ruling upheld a verdict from the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord full rights and privileges to the LP under Abure’s leadership as a duly registered political party in Nigeria.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed Abure's faction's appeal, asserting that it lacked merit and reiterating that leadership disputes within political parties must adhere to internal governance structures rather than resorting to court interventions. The court further declared that Abure's tenure had expired, thus placing Nenadi Usman, a former senator and head of the caretaker committee, firmly in charge of the party.
This landmark ruling underscores the Supreme Court's commitment to the principles of political party autonomy and internal democracy, marking a pivotal moment in the Labour Party's governance. As the party moves forward under Usman's leadership, the focus will now be on uniting its members and strategizing for upcoming electoral challenges.
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