- Safiu Kehinde
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has vowed to appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which recognised the Caretaker Committee headed by Nenadi Usman.
NPO earlier Reported that the court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Usman as the valid leader of the party.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court upheld the April 4, 2025 verdict of the Supreme Court which affirmed Usman’s leadership and consequently removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led faction, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party held that Justice Lifu, misinterpreted the April 4, 2025, decision of the Supreme Court by declaring Nenadi Usman as Caretaker Chairman of the party.
The party said the judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s position that no court has the power to appoint leaders for a political party, as leadership issues are internal party affairs.
It expressed satisfaction that the Federal High Court was not the final court, adding that it would approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling.
Ifoh said the party was yet to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, noting that its position would be further strengthened upon reviewing the document.
“However, from the brief we have received so far, it is clear that the party will appeal the judgment,” he said.
Ifoh alleged that the party had earlier suspected the outcome based on what he described as the “body language” around the court proceedings.
He claimed that the court denied the party the opportunity to respond to issues raised in a counter-affidavit filed by opposing parties before adjourning for judgment.
Ifoh also alleged that some adversaries celebrated prematurely on social media, claiming victory before the judgment was delivered.
He recalled that the Court of Appeal had earlier recognised the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party.
According to him, Nenadi Usman had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the pronouncement, arguing that courts lacked jurisdiction over party leadership matters.
“Ironically, a Federal High Court has now gone ahead to pronounce someone as Caretaker National Chairman of a party,” Ifoh said.
He reiterated that the Supreme Court had declined jurisdiction on leadership disputes, describing them as internal party affairs.
Ifoh added that the apex court never ruled that the tenure of the Abure-led leadership had expired.
He questioned how the Federal High Court arrived at the conclusion that there was a leadership vacuum without examining the validity of the party’s national convention held on March 27, 2024.
Ifoh urged party members to remain calm, assuring them that the leadership would pursue justice through lawful means.
He warned that the party was not for sale and would not relinquish its leadership position due to financial pressure