Court Removes Abure as Labour Party Chairman Directs INEC to Recognise Usman-Led Committee

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Peter Lifu, relied on the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court verdict to recognise former Minister of Finance, Esther Nenadi Usman, as the legitimate leader of the party.

Justice Lifu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately acknowledge the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as “the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party” until a national convention is conducted.

The ruling followed a suit (THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025) filed by Usman before the court. Apart from Abure, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was also joined as a defendant in the case.

The court held that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had clearly elapsed and rejected his argument that the dispute was an internal party matter and therefore non-justiciable. Justice Lifu ruled that the establishment of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee was a “necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s decision.

The leadership crisis in the party prompted the National Executive Committee to remove Abure and constitute a 29-member caretaker committee, with Usman as chair. The decision was taken at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, hosted by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Dissatisfied with his removal, Abure approached the Federal High Court seeking validation of his position. In an affidavit supporting his suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024), he stated that he was lawfully elected acting chairman in 2021 and later emerged as substantive chairman at the party’s national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, in March 2024.

Abure also told the court that under his leadership, the party fielded candidates for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. Initially, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled in his favour, instructing INEC to recognise him. However, these decisions were later overturned by the Supreme Court.

In its lead judgment, prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court upheld the appeal filed by Usman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, while dismissing Abure’s cross-appeal.

The Supreme Court further reminded political parties to strictly follow their constitutions and rules, urging officials whose tenures have expired to vacate their positions.

TAGS: Labour Party (LP)