Court Sacks Julius Abure as Labour Party Chairman, Declares Nenadi Usman Party Leader

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Abure’s tenure as the party’s national chairman had already expired. The court also declared former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, as the valid leader of the Labour Party.

Following the ruling, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only legitimate authority to represent the Labour Party. This arrangement will remain in place until the party holds a national convention.

Justice Lifu rejected Abure’s argument that the issue was an internal party matter that the court had no power to decide. He stated that the formation of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee was necessary and followed an earlier directive from the Supreme Court.

The court also recalled that the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had earlier resolved to remove Abure as national chairman due to the leadership crisis within the party.

The judgment effectively brings an end to Julius Abure’s leadership and confirms Senator Nenadi Usman as the recognised head of the Labour Party for now.