Nenadi Usman and Julius Abure are asserting their right to triumph
In response to the decision handed down by the Supreme Court yesterday, Senator Nenadi Usman, who serves as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, and Mr. Julius Abure, who served as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) prior to the ruling, are asserting their right to triumph.
On Friday, a panel of five Supreme Court justices overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had earlier pronounced Abure to be the party’s national chairman.
Using the argument that the substance of the matter is related to the internal leadership of the party, the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that the appellate court did not have the authority to issue such a declaration.
This decision was reached in a unanimous judgement by the Supreme Court. It was also made clear that any and all issues concerning the leadership of the party are considered to be internal affairs, which the judiciary does not have the authority to oversee.
It ruled in favor of Nenadi Usman, a former senator who is currently serving as the leader of the caretaker committee for the Labour Party.
The Supreme Court rejected Abure’s LP faction’s appeal, finding it meritless.
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, confirmed Abure as LP national chairman in January 2025.
Three judges unanimously upheld the October 8 Federal High Court in Abuja ruling that ordered INEC to give the LP under Abure all the rights and privileges of a registered political party in Nigeria.
Following this, Usman in a statement stated, “The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.
“It is important to emphasise that 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. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.
“The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centred governance.
“We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us. A New Nigeria is Possible.”
Obiora Ifoh, who serves as the National Publicity Secretary for the Labour party, issued a statement in which he stated, “The Supreme Court today, April 4, 2025 gave a judgement in the cases brought against the Labour Party. In its judgement, the court said the matter is purely an internal affairs of the political party of which courts have no business to dabble into them.
“The Supreme Court insists that the lower courts should have declined jurisdiction and shouldn’t have made pronouncement on the leadership of a political party. It therefore struck out Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Appeal Court and the Labour Party suit at the trial court.
“The Supreme Court judgement didn’t sack Labour Party National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure rather it rightly upheld the preceding and accumulated High Courts and Appeal Court judgments upholding the immutability of responsibility of Labour Party structures to choose its leaders.
“The judgement did not also set aside the Appeal Court judgement in Labour Party vs Ebiseni and 2 others (CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024) delivered on the 13 November 2024 which affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. The judgement is still valid and subsisting and has not been appealed.
”The implication is very clear. Barrister Julius Abure remains Labour Party national chairman.
“The question is, who are the leaders of the party? The party constitution is clear as who are the leaders of the party. The leadership of the party has been the National Working Committee led by Barrister Julius Abure.
“The party constitution is also clear on who has the power to call for the national convention or any national meeting.
“Article 14 of 2024 constitution as amended gives powers to the National Secretary of the party” to issue notices of meetings of the national convention, national executive council, the national working committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman.
“Accordingly, the National convention of the party was called by the leadership of the party on the 27 of March 2024 where the leaders of the party emerged. The report of the National Convention is already with INEC and that leadership is recognised by INEC.
“The gathering of people in Umuahia is clearly not in line with the constitution and therefore the celebration by some persons that the leadership of Julius Abure has been sacked were only trying to be mischievous and misleading and that the Supreme Court didn’t say so.
“We are therefore calling on all true members of the Labour Party to abide by the judgement of the apex court, and to always resort to internal party mechanism in resolving party affairs and not to always rush to the court.
“It is only the political parties that have the powers to choose its leaders not the courts. Everybody must learn to respect the decisions of the party and its constitution.
“The position of the Supreme Court is that the structures of the party is capable of handling any matters as it concerns its affairs and as it is today, the Labour Party National Chairman is and remains Barrister Julius Abure.”
However, the caucus of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives has expressed that they are pleased with the decision of the Supreme Court, which removed Abure from his position as the National Chairman of the party.
It was pointed out by the caucus that Abure’s departure would bring about renewal and stability within the party.
It was a timely counsel to leaders who play god in the affairs of mankind, especially in a democracy, according to the caucus, which stated that the verdict was a timely counseled.