The Supreme Court has settled the leadership dispute within the Labour Party (LP) by setting aside the Court of Appeal's judgment that had recognized Julius Abure as the national chairperson. The five-member panel unanimously ruled on Friday that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership matters.
The apex court upheld the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, who was appointed to lead a 29-member caretaker committee in September 2024 after the National Executive Committee (NEC) removed the Abure-led executive. Usman, a former Minister of Finance and ex-senator representing Kaduna South, was tasked with facilitating new party leadership elections within 90 days.
Hamma Barka, who delivered the lead judgment, emphasized that "anything done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity." The Supreme Court also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction for lacking merit and voided the Federal High Court's October 8, 2024 judgment on jurisdictional grounds.
Background of the Dispute
The leadership crisis began in February 2024 when Oluchi Oparah, LP's national treasurer, accused Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion—allegations Abure denied while threatening legal action. This led to widespread calls for his removal from party members.
In April 2023, the FCT High Court had already restrained Abure from presenting himself as the party's chairman. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently invalidated Abure's leadership, citing violations of the constitution and Electoral Act, and noting that his tenure had expired in June 2024.
The decisive leadership shift occurred on September 4, 2024, when Governor Alex Otti of Abia State convened a stakeholders' meeting in Umuahia, attended by prominent party figures including Peter Obi (LP's 2023 presidential candidate) and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed. This meeting appointed Usman to head the caretaker committee.
Reaction to the Verdict
Following the Supreme Court ruling, Usman described the judgment as "a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone" for Nigeria's democracy. She emphasized unity, stating: "This is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people."
She called for party members to unite, declaring: "The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centred governance."
The Supreme Court's ruling effectively ends the prolonged leadership battle, establishing that Usman's caretaker committee has legitimate authority to steer the party forward.
