The Labour Party has officially confirmed that Julius Abure remains its legitimate National Chairman, following a decisive Supreme Court ruling on Friday that dismissed all ongoing legal challenges to his leadership.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party praised the Supreme Court’s verdict, calling it a significant victory for internal party democracy.
The Court ruled that matters concerning the leadership of political parties are internal affairs, not subject to judicial interference.
“The Supreme Court emphasized that lower courts should have refrained from making rulings on the leadership of political parties,” the statement read.
The ruling nullified Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Court of Appeal, as well as a related case filed at the trial court. Importantly, it upheld the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision in the case of Labour Party vs Ebiseni & 2 others (CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024), delivered on November 13, 2024, which confirmed Abure as the party’s National Chairman.
As a result, the Labour Party asserted that there is now no ambiguity surrounding its leadership structure. “The implication is clear—Barrister Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party,” Ifoh affirmed.
The party also emphasized that the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abure is the legally recognized leadership, as its formation followed due process as outlined in the Labour Party’s constitution.
Furthermore, the national convention held on March 27, 2024, which elected the current leadership, was duly convened and acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing rumors surrounding a parallel meeting in Umuahia, the Labour Party dismissed claims of Abure’s removal, labeling such reports as “mischievous and misleading.”
“The gathering in Umuahia does not align with the party’s constitution. Claims that Abure’s leadership has been dismissed are simply an attempt to mislead the public,” the statement asserted.
The Labour Party also urged its members to prioritize the party’s internal mechanisms for resolving disputes, rather than resorting to the courts.
“We call on all genuine members of the Labour Party to respect the Supreme Court’s judgment and to always use the party’s internal channels for resolving issues. Only political parties have the authority to elect their leaders, not the courts,” Ifoh added.
In conclusion, the party reiterated that the Supreme Court’s ruling validates the Labour Party’s internal processes and affirms Julius Abure’s position as its duly elected National Chairman.
