The legal battle for the soul of the Labour Party (LP) reached a fever pitch on Tuesday after the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal by Julius Abure.
In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.
The court, led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, upheld a January 21 ruling by the Federal High Court.
This decision rests on an April 4, 2025, Supreme Court judgment which nullified the convention that purportedly returned Abure as chairman.
The appellate court ruled that the lower court acted within its constitutional powers by directing INEC to recognize Usman’s caretaker committee.
However, Abure has swiftly rejected the ruling, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to established legal principles.
He insists that the national convention held in Nnewi in March 2024 remains valid for a four-year tenure.
“We have put our legal team together and we are going to file an appeal and move to the Supreme Court,” Abure stated in a late-night reaction.
Abure Sanctioned for Abuse of Process
The justices were highly critical of Abure’s legal conduct throughout the leadership dispute.
They accused him of “forum shopping” by initiating multiple cases in various courts, including a High Court in Nasarawa State.
The panel noted that these actions were attempts to relitigate issues already settled by the Supreme Court in 2025.
“The appeal lacks merit and amounts to a misuse of the judicial process,” Justice Oyewumi held.
Consequently, the court ordered Abure to pay ₦10 million as a penalty for wasting judicial time.
The court further justified the creation of the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee under the doctrine of necessity.
This committee was established during a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia to fill what the court described as a “leadership vacuum.”
Abure, however, argues that only a National Chairman has the power to convene such meetings under the party’s constitution.
Usman Moves Forward with Party Congresses
Despite the pending Supreme Court appeal, Senator Nenadi Usman has hailed the judgment as a victory for the rule of law.
She praised the judiciary for its consistency and called on all party members to prioritize unity over internal friction.
“The court has brought clarity to our leadership after a prolonged and exhausting crisis,” Usman remarked following the session.
The Usman-led committee has already unveiled a schedule for upcoming party congresses across the country.
Ward, local government, and state congresses are set to hold between April 23 and April 25, 2026.
These activities will culminate in a national convention scheduled for April 28 in Umuahia, Abia State.
Usman emphasized that these steps are vital for the party to regain its organizational footing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the case moves back to the apex court, the Labour Party is still divided between those seeking a new collaboration with the opposition and those who might be clandestinely working for the ruling party.
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