Abure Still Our National Chairman – Labour Party Declares

The Labour Party has affirmed that Julius Abure remains its authentic National Chairman, following a resounding Supreme Court verdict delivered on Friday that struck out all pending cases challenging his leadership.

In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party hailed the ruling of Nigeria’s apex court, describing it as a major victory for internal party democracy. Home decor

The Supreme Court ruled that issues concerning political party leadership are internal affairs that should not be subject to judicial interference.

“The Supreme Court insists that the lower courts should have declined jurisdiction and should not have made pronouncements on the leadership of a political party,” the statement read.

The ruling struck out Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Appeal Court, as well as the suit instituted at the trial court.

Importantly, it did not nullify the Court of Appeal’s earlier judgment in the case Labour Party vs Ebiseni & 2 others (CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024), delivered on November 13, 2024, which had confirmed Abure as the party’s National Chairman.

With this decision, the Labour Party said there is no ambiguity regarding its leadership structure.

“The implication is very clear. Barrister Julius Abure remains Labour Party National Chairman,” Ifoh asserted.

The party also clarified that the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abure remains the legally recognised leadership, as its emergence followed due process laid out in the Labour Party’s constitution.

It added that the national convention held on March 27, 2024, which produced the party’s current leadership, was properly convened and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a veiled reference to a parallel gathering in Umuahia, the party dismissed any claims suggesting Abure’s removal, calling such reports “mischievous and misleading.”

“The gathering of people in Umuahia is clearly not in line with the constitution, and the celebration by some persons that the leadership of Julius Abure has been sacked is only an attempt to mislead the public,” the statement noted.

Labour Party further urged its members to respect the party’s internal mechanisms for dispute resolution, rather than rushing to the courts.

“We are calling on all true members of the Labour Party to abide by the judgment of the apex court, and to always resort to internal party mechanisms in resolving party affairs. Only political parties have the powers to choose their leaders, not the courts,” Ifoh added.

He concluded by reaffirming that the position of the Supreme Court vindicated the Labour Party’s internal processes and validates Abure’s position as its duly elected National Chairman.