A faction of Nigeria’s Labour Party led by Julius Abure has rejected a Federal High Court ruling that recognised a caretaker committee headed by former finance minister Esther Nenadi Usman, saying it will immediately appeal the decision.
In a judgment delivered on Monday in Abuja, Justice Peter Lifu ruled in favour of a caretaker committee for the party, a decision the Abure-led National Working Committee described as a misinterpretation of an earlier Supreme Court verdict.
Speaking in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the leadership said the court’s ruling contradicted the position of the Supreme Court, which it argued had clearly stated that courts do not have the power to appoint leaders for political parties, as such matters are internal affairs.
The statement said the party was yet to obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment but insisted that, based on information available, it had resolved to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Mr Ifoh alleged irregularities in the handling of the case, including the reassignment of the matter between judges and what he described as the court’s refusal to allow the party respond fully to counter-affidavits before judgment was delivered.
He also claimed that rival factions had celebrated publicly on social media before the ruling was handed down, suggesting foreknowledge of the outcome.
The Abure-led leadership further argued that the Court of Appeal had previously recognised its National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party, a decision that was later challenged at the Supreme Court by Ms Usman. The Supreme Court, it said, did not rule that the party’s leadership tenure had expired but merely declined jurisdiction on the grounds that the issue was an internal party matter.
According to the statement, the party’s national convention was held in March 2024, before the expiration of the previous executive’s tenure, and therefore no leadership vacuum existed.
The faction questioned how the Federal High Court concluded that there was a vacuum in the party’s leadership without ruling on the legality of the March 2024 convention.
The party urged its members to remain calm while the legal process continues, insisting that it would pursue all lawful means to protect its leadership.
It also warned that the party “is not for sale”, adding that financial influence would not compel it to relinquish its position.
About The Author
