The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Mr. Julius Abure against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025.
Delivering judgment, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, noting that the Supreme Court had, in its April 4, 2025, decision in Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025, nullified all prior recognitions of Abure’s leadership of the Labour Party.
The court relied on Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates all courts to give effect to the decisions of the Supreme Court.
In a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to Abure’s suit, INEC stated that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the National Executive Committee, expired in June 2024. The Commission further stated that it neither monitored nor recognised the March 27, 2024, convention in Nnewi, describing it as a breach of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC’s regulations, and the Labour Party constitution.
The suit was accordingly struck out.
Speaking on the ruling, Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, described the judgment as “another unambiguous affirmation of the rule of law” and a reinforcement of the Supreme Court’s earlier decision. She urged party members to move past the “needless distraction” and focus on rebuilding the Labour Party into a “credible, disciplined, and people-centred political movement.”
