The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP) as the party’s legitimate leadership, effectively removing Julius Abure as National Chairman.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu relied on the April 4, 2025, verdict of the Supreme Court to declare Senator Nenadi Usman as the valid leader of the party. The court then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize her leadership pending the conduct of a national convention by the party.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the former Minister of Finance, in which Julius Abure and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu held that the evidence before the court clearly established that Abure’s tenure as National Chairman of the Labour Party had expired.
The court further ruled that the constitution of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee was a “necessity” arising from the directive of the Supreme Court.
It dismissed Abure’s argument that the dispute was an internal party affair and therefore should be free from the interference of the court.
Recall that following a prolonged leadership crisis within the party, the National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to remove Abure as National Chairman.
To address the resulting leadership vacuum, the NEC constituted a 29-member Caretaker Committee, appointing former Finance Minister, Senator Nenadi Usman, as its chairperson.
The NEC meeting that removed Abure was chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and hosted in Umuahia by the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Abure approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking validation of his claim as the substantive National Chairman of the Labour Party, a request the court has now dismissed.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
