Abure vows Supreme Court appeal after A’Court backs Usman as LP chair

THE leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Tuesday as factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal and pledged to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Abure faulted the appellate court’s decision, which affirmed Nenadi Usman as the party’s leader, arguing that the ruling contradicted established legal principles and the party’s internal procedures.

He maintained that disputes over party leadership are internal matters that should not be subjected to judicial intervention, insisting the judgment did not reflect existing legal precedents.

Abure said the ruling was unacceptable to his faction, stressing that courts in Nigeria have consistently held that leadership issues within political parties fall outside their jurisdiction. He also rejected claims that his executive’s tenure has expired, describing such assertions as false.

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Appeal court dismisses Abure’s appeal

Earlier, a 3-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously dismissed Abure’s appeal, ruling that it lacked merit and legal substance. The court consequently upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, which recognised Usman’s leadership.

Abure, however, argued that the party’s convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, produced a valid leadership with a 4-year mandate, which the court allegedly failed to consider in its decision.

He also criticised the Umuahia meeting that produced the party’s caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional. According to him, only the national chairman and secretary have the authority to convene a national executive committee meeting.

Reaffirming his position, Abure said his legal team has been instructed to file an appeal at the Supreme Court, insisting that the appellate court’s ruling would be contested.

The decision represents a significant setback for Abure’s faction, as recent legal and political developments have increasingly favoured Usman’s camp.

The crisis took a decisive turn two months ago when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the party’s legitimate leadership, in line with a Federal High Court directive.

Following the move, INEC updated its official records, replacing Abure’s name with Usman as acting national chairman, after weeks of internal disputes, parallel leadership claims, and prolonged litigation that have trailed the party since the 2023 general elections.