Court of Appeal affirms Julius Abure as Labour Party National Chairman

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reaffirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, maintaining that its earlier judgment of November 13, 2024, recognizing him as the party’s leader, remains valid and has not been overturned by any court.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, the three-member appellate panel clarified that issues relating to the party’s leadership are not justiciable, as they fall outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The judgment came in response to two appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the Labour Party caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Barka emphasized that the Federal High Court’s decision of October 8, 2024, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, which attempted to challenge Abure’s position, was null and void due to lack of jurisdiction.

While striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction, he held that the appellate court relied on its previous judgement of November 13 last year to hold that “Abure Remains National Chairman of the Labour Party”.

Justice Nwite had in his judgement in October 2024, affirmed the Abure-led leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced the national leadership.

Justice Nwite further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding the Commission’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid.

In his words, “I am of the view that and so hold that the basis of these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.

“The plaintiff has proved his case. I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria.”

INEC had argued that the Labour Party’s national convention violated the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act and that the party failed to meet legal requirements for holding the convention.