Senator Victor Umeh [LP, Anambra Central] in the National Assembly says the Supreme Court has officially ended Julius Abure’s time as chairman of the Labour Party.
According to Umeh, the judgement was clear and final. “The door has been shut on him (Abure), and the only thing left to him is for him to reflect over the admonishment given to him by the Supreme Court,” he said during a media interview.
Umeh added that Abure’s tenure had long ended, and the court’s position should not be ignored. “His tenure has expired, he knows it, and he is in breach of an agreement which became a consent judgement of the Federal High Court,” he explained.
The Federal High Court earlier ruled that Abure must follow internal party procedures and organize congresses to remain in office. But since then, Umeh said, “Abure has not held any congress anywhere.”
Abure’s refusal to comply, he said, created a leadership vacuum, which forced party stakeholders to form a caretaker committee.
Caretaker Committee Wants Peace
Senator Umeh urged Abure to accept the decision and embrace the olive branch from Senator Nenadi Usman, who now leads the party’s caretaker committee.
“If he thinks the party people love him and want him to continue as chairman, then he must go through the right process,” Umeh stated.
The caretaker committee was backed by major party figures including Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and other elected Labour Party officials.
The leadership crisis began after accusations surfaced that Abure extended his tenure without due process. Umeh, a former APGA national chairman, said he saw it coming.
“I advised Abure, but he dismissed my counsel,” he said.
The power tussle between Abure and the caretaker committee escalated after multiple court rulings and internal disagreements, threatening to destabilize the party ahead of future elections.
Party Unity Needed Ahead of 2027
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier warned that leadership disputes in parties could affect candidate nominations in future polls. Observers say the Labour Party needs to resolve its internal rifts fast if it hopes to stay relevant ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Umeh warned that Abure cannot impose himself on the party again. “You can’t be chairman without going through the process,” he said.
He urged party loyalists to focus on rebuilding unity and trust. The factional crisis has affected the party’s reputation and grassroots mobilization.
There’s growing pressure on the leadership to organize a national convention that will allow members to elect new officials and end the crisis.
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