January 26, (THEWILL) – There seems to be no end yet to the prolonged leadership crisis in the Labour Party, LP, as the 29-member caretaker committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman last week rejected the Appeal Court ruling confirming Julius Abure as National Chairman of the party.
The caretaker committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and LP’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, said it would head to the Supreme Court for final arbitration on the matter, warning Abure to stop parading himself as the party’s national chairman.
Governor Otti and Obi, had set up the committee to manage the affairs of the party after they removed Abure and his executive from office.
According to Senator Usman, despite the court ruling, the committee remains in charge of the party’s affairs by virtue of the mandate entrusted to them by stakeholders at an emergency convention held in Aba in September, 2024.
Nevertheless, Abure’s victory at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, also validated the party’s March 2024 national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The Presiding Judge of the Appeal Court, Justice Hamma Barka, said that a previous judgement delivered on November 13, 2024, in the matter between the Labour Party (appellant) and Chief Olusola Ebiseni alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission as respondents, was still relevant.
Ruling on two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Usman, the caretaker committee, and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the appellate court held on January 17, 2024 that the Labour Party’s leadership issues were not justiciable.
It ruled that any actions taken outside its jurisdiction were null and void. Consequently, the judgement of the Federal High Court, delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite, was deemed invalid and subsequently struck out.
Rising swiftly in reaction to the ruling, Senator Usman and the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Darlington Nwokocha, criticised the judgement and alleged the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction, made errors, and violated their right to a fair hearing.
They said, “As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we, on behalf of ourselves and other members, deem it necessary to issue this press release to clarify and set the record straight.
“The Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction and breached the committee’s right to a fair hearing by disregarding their counter-affidavit in the case filed by Abure.
“As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we find it necessary to set the record straight.
“The Federal High Court erred by entertaining the leadership dispute initiated by Julius Abure and violated our rights by failing to consider our opposition to the suit, the statement read.
“The Court of Appeal affirmed that Suit No:
FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, filed before the Federal High Court by Julius Abure, concerned a leadership dispute over which the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction.
“The Federal High Court erred and acted without jurisdiction by entertaining the leadership dispute brought before it by Julius Abure. It also violated our right to a fair hearing by failing to consider our counter-affidavit opposing the suit before it.
“Finally, we wish to remind the public that, on September 4, 2024, the Labour Party constituted a National Caretaker Committee, appointing us as the national chairman and secretary. Both have been diligently and effectively carrying out their duties to the admiration of stakeholders and the entire membership of the party.”
In the meantime, some states exco of the party have hailed the appellate court verdict as the last word on the lingering leadership crisis in the party and called on all stakeholders to embrace reconciliation with the Abure led-National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.
The Ogun State and Nasarawa State excos,have congratulated Abure on the court ruling. Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State chapter of the party, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, commended Abure for his commitment to upholding the party’s ideals and constitution despite recent challenges.
Peters said, “The entire leadership and members of the Labour Party in Ogun State have absolute trust in the ability, competence and capacity of Abure to lead the party to greater heights. His unwavering dedication to the unity, growth and progress of the party is highly inspiring.”
He called on all the leaders of the party to set aside their differences and join others to prepare for the approaching 2027 General Election.
“As a matter of urgency, a fence-mending meeting must be convened between the Abure-led National Working Committee, Peter Obi and Dr Alex Otti to close ranks and chart a way forward for the party,” Mr Peters said.
The Chairman of the party in Nasarawa State, Alexander Ombugu, congratulated Abure and the NEC of the party on the Appeal court victory.
“On behalf of the executives, members and supporters of the Labour Party in Nasarawa State, I wish to congratulate our National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the entire National Executive Council (NEC) of our great party for the victory at the Appeal Court. The court has reaffirmed Barr. Abure’s leadership, and we are grateful to the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and its integrity. The Labour Party will remain united and focused on promoting the welfare of the Nigerian people,” Ombugu said, adding that all parties involved in the dispute should respect the ruling affirming Abure as the National Chairman.
Ombugu appealed to aggrieved members to set aside their differences for the greater good of the party, saying, “It is our collective responsibility to take the Labour Party to greater heights. I call on all aggrieved members and intending members to join hands with the Abure-led administration as we prepare to rescue Nigeria during the 2027 general election.”
For Obora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the party, the legal threat by Senator Nenadi’s committee is giving the NWC members no sleepless nights. He said in a newspaper interview that the NWC did not “think that any member of the party would go ahead and demand alternative results after the Appeal Court has made a declaratory ruling. We are working to bring everyone together to see how we can move forward.”
Ifoh said that since the recent victory at the courts, the leadership of the party had started strategising to reposition the party with “a lot of programmes since last year that we are pursuing vigorously,” including a new membership drive and the online revalidation of old members, holding of ward congresses by February 2025, all geared towards preparations for the 2027 general election.
Speaking from the sidelines of a meeting of chairmen of political parties with the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, in Abujal last week, Abure told journalists that he was sure that soon “all differences will be put aside and we will again speak authoritatively with one voice and come out stronger and very effective in the political space. There is no political party without some differences; it is a game of interests and there will always be conflicting interests in every political environment.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
