The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has removed Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman–led caretaker committee as the party’s authentic leadership.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgement on Wednesday, relied on the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court decision to affirm Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance, as the valid leader of the party pending the conduct of a national convention.
The court directed INEC to forthwith recognise the Nenadi Usman–led caretaker committee as the only lawful authority representing the Labour Party.
The ruling followed a suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, filed by Usman against Abure and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court clearly showed that Abure’s tenure had elapsed, dismissing his argument that the matter was an internal party affair beyond judicial intervention. The court ruled that the constitution of the caretaker committee was a necessity arising from the Supreme Court’s directive.
The court recalled that following a prolonged leadership crisis, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party removed Abure and constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by Usman.
The decision was taken at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, and hosted by Governor Alex Otti, with the meeting chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Abure had earlier approached the Federal High Court to validate his position, claiming he was duly elected acting chairman in March 2021 and later confirmed at the party’s March 27, 2024, national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State. While the High Court and Court of Appeal initially ruled in his favour, the Supreme Court overturned both decisions, dislodging him from office.
In its lead judgement, prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court upheld the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal, and warned political party officials to vacate offices once their tenures expire.
