The leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has deepened as factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, rejected the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s leader, declaring his intention to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, April 21, Abure dismissed the appellate court’s decision, insisting it was inconsistent with established legal standards and party rules.
“We have seen what transpired today at the Appeal Court and we want to say very clearly that the judgment is not acceptable to all of us in the Labour Party led by my humble self.
“I want to say very clearly that the judgment is against all known principles of law. The courts, the Supreme Court and all courts in Nigeria have stated very clearly that the issues of leadership of a political party is an internal affair of a political party.
“It is also not true and I disagree when people say that the tenure of this executive has expired. That is untrue and very unacceptable to us,” he stated.
Abure maintained that the party’s convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, produced a legitimate leadership expected to run for four years, arguing that this was not properly considered in the court’s decision.
READ ALSO: LP Crisis: Appeal Court Dismisses Abure’s Appeal, Affirms Usman As Chairman
“I want to say that the court today didn’t look at that before arriving at the conclusion that the tenure has expired. I must also say clearly that the Umuahia meeting, which produced the Caretaker Committee, was also against the Labour Party constitution.
“It is only the National Chairman and Secretary of a political party who have the power to convene any NEC meeting of any sort. Let me state clearly that we are going to appeal that decision.
“Today’s decision of the Appeal Court is not acceptable to us and we reject it in its entirety. We have put our legal team together and we are going to file an appeal and move to the Supreme Court,” he said.
First Daily reports that the appellate court had earlier dismissed Abure’s appeal and upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, which recognised Usman’s leadership.
The dispute had already tilted in favour of Usman after the Independent National Electoral Commission updated its records to reflect her as Acting National Chairman, following a court directive.
The prolonged leadership tussle, marked by parallel claims and multiple legal battles since the 2023 elections, now appears set for a final resolution at the Supreme Court.