ABUJA– The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed Julius Abure from his position as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court referenced the Supreme Court’s verdict of 4 April 2025, declaring former Finance Minister Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.
Consequently, the court instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as “the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party,” until a national convention is convened.
This judgement stemmed from suit number THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, filed by the former minister.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was also named as a defendant in the case.
Justice Lifu ruled that the evidence presented confirmed that Abure’s term as national chairman of the LP had expired.
While dismissing Abure’s claim that the issue was an internal party matter and thus non-justiciable, the court maintained that the establishment of the LP Caretaker Committee was “a necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s directive.
It is worth noting that due to a leadership crisis within the LP, the National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to remove Abure from his position.
To address the leadership void, the party formed a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Finance Minister Usman.
This decision resulted from an expanded stakeholders’ meeting hosted in Umuahia by Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
The meeting, during which Abure was removed, was chaired by his former ally and the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi.
Dissatisfied with this decision, Abure sought validation of his chairmanship from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In an affidavit supporting the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, Abure stated that he was lawfully elected as Acting National Chairman following the death of the previous chairman during an NEC meeting held in Benin City, Edo State, on 29 March 2021.
He further claimed that in a NEC meeting on 18 April 2023 in Asaba, Delta State, monitored by INEC, it was resolved to renew the tenures of State Chairmen whose terms had expired.
He noted that at the same meeting, members engaged in anti-party activities were expelled, and replacements were appointed for the resulting vacancies.
Abure asserted that in accordance with a consensus reached at that meeting, the party held its National Convention on 27 March 2024 in Nnewi, Anambra State, where he was duly elected as National Chairman of the LP.
He stated that under his leadership, the party produced candidates for governorship elections in both Edo and Ondo states.
While both the high court and the court of appeal upheld Abure’s claims and ordered INEC to recognise him, he was ultimately removed by the Supreme Court, which nullified the decisions of the two lower courts.
In its lead judgement, prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court upheld the appeal filed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Usman and Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, respectively.
The Supreme Court also dismissed a cross-appeal from Abure, advising political parties to adhere to their own regulations regarding the appointment of their officers and urging officials whose tenures have expired to vacate their positions.
