The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamma Barka, dismissed two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Usman, the caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It ruled that the Labour Party’s leadership disputes were non-justiciable and struck out an earlier judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024. The appellate court declared that any rulings issued outside its jurisdiction were null and void.
Abuja, Nigeria – The leadership tussle within the Labour Party escalated on Saturday as the party’s 29-member caretaker committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, rejected the Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated Julius Abure as the national chairman.
This development followed Abure’s legal victory at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, which upheld the party’s March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, and confirmed him as the legitimate chairman.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the caretaker committee, chaired by Senator Nenadi Usman, maintained that it remains the authentic leadership body of the party. The committee stated that it was entrusted with this responsibility by stakeholders during an emergency convention held on September 4, 2024. Senator Usman and the committee’s National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, accused Abure of unlawfully parading himself as chairman and rejected the court’s verdict.
The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamma Barka, dismissed two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Usman, the caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It ruled that the Labour Party’s leadership disputes were non-justiciable and struck out an earlier judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024. The appellate court declared that any rulings issued outside its jurisdiction were null and void.
The caretaker committee, however, criticized the Appeal Court’s ruling and insisted on its legitimacy. In a strongly worded statement, Senator Usman accused the Federal High Court of lacking jurisdiction and breaching the committee’s right to a fair hearing by disregarding their counter-affidavit in the case filed by Abure.
“As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we find it necessary to set the record straight,” the statement read. “The Federal High Court erred by entertaining the leadership dispute initiated by Julius Abure and violated our rights by failing to consider our opposition to the suit.”
The committee also reiterated its claim that it was mandated to oversee the party’s affairs and that its leadership has received widespread support from party members and stakeholders.
The ongoing leadership crisis has raised questions about the future direction of the Labour Party as both factions remain entrenched in their respective positions.
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