The Labour Party (LP) leadership crisis has escalated as the 29-member caretaker committee, set up by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, announced plans to challenge the recent Court of Appeal ruling affirming Julius Abure as the party's National Chairman.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the committee's National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, and National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, the group expressed dissatisfaction with the appellate court's Friday verdict, which upheld Abure's leadership following the March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The committee stated:
“The Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party is going to seek further clarification from the Supreme Court on the leadership dispute in the party. Senator Nenadi Esther Usman confirmed this fact at the weekend to clear the ambiguities in the ruling of the appeal court."
The caretaker committee argued that the Court of Appeal rulings of November 13, 2024, and January 17, 2025, raised issues requiring resolution by the Supreme Court. Legal counsel has been instructed to proceed with the case, and party supporters have been urged to remain patient as the legal process unfolds.
Court of Appeal Ruling
In its Friday ruling, a three-member appellate court panel led by Justice Hamma Barka upheld the Federal High Court’s October 8 decision, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Abure’s leadership. The court stated it found no grounds to overturn Justice Emeka Nwite’s earlier judgment.
Background
The leadership dispute began when the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party moved to remove Julius Abure as National Chairman, citing internal crises. Subsequently, a caretaker committee was established, with former minister Senator Nenadi Usman as Chairman and Darlington Nwokocha as Secretary. The decision emerged from an expanded stakeholders’ meeting convened in Umuahia by Governor Alex Otti and chaired by Peter Obi.
The Supreme Court's ruling is expected to be a critical determinant of the party's leadership moving forward.
