Julius Abure remains national chairman until 2028
The leadership tussle within the Labour Party intensified on Tuesday as the faction loyal to Julius Abure insisted that he remains the party’s substantive National Chairman until 2028, dismissing claims that his tenure has expired.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, the Abure-led camp maintained that the current leadership structure emerged from a valid national convention and remains constitutionally binding.
The statement, signed by Abure’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communications, Aju Elumelu-James, described contrary claims as “misleading” and inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
The renewed declaration comes amid ongoing legal and political disputes within the party, including a January ruling by a Federal High Court that recognised a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman.
That judgment, now subject to further legal processes, has deepened divisions among party stakeholders ahead of key political realignments.
Chronology of leadership succession
To support its position, the Abure faction outlined what it described as a clear constitutional sequence of events. Following the death of former National Chairman Abdulkadir Abdulsalam in December 2020, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Maria Lebeke, assumed leadership in acting capacity.
According to the statement, a National Executive Council meeting was subsequently convened on March 29, 2021, during which Julius Abure was unanimously elected to complete the tenure of the late chairman.
The party further explained that prior to the expiration of that tenure in June 2023, a NEC meeting held in Asaba in April 2023 extended the leadership’s mandate by one year to stabilise internal structures and prepare for a national convention.
It added that on March 27, 2024, a National Convention took place in Nnewi, Anambra State, where Abure and other members of the National Working Committee were elected for a fresh term. Following that convention, the camp insists that Abure’s tenure is valid until 2028.
Legal dimension and Supreme Court interpretation
Central to the dispute is the interpretation of recent judicial pronouncements. The Abure faction argued that while the matter of party leadership is currently before the Court of Appeal, no binding appellate decision has invalidated the March 2024 convention.
The statement also referenced a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, noting that the apex court had reiterated that leadership issues within political parties fall under internal party affairs and are generally beyond judicial intervention, except where statutory breaches are established.
According to the Abure camp, the Supreme Court did not make any pronouncement nullifying the Nnewi convention or Abure’s leadership. Instead, it emphasised the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal structures.
Legal analysts observing the dispute say the distinction between internal party autonomy and compliance with electoral laws will likely determine the final judicial outcome.
Until a definitive appellate judgment is delivered, both factions appear poised to maintain their claims.
Escalating tensions within the party
The controversy over whether Julius Abure remains national chairman until 2028 has also taken on a physical dimension. The Usman-led faction recently accused Abure’s supporters of attempting to assert control over the party’s national secretariat, an allegation that the Abure camp has denied.
Party insiders suggest that the disagreement reflects deeper ideological and strategic divisions about the future direction of the Labour Party.
Since the 2023 general elections, the party has experienced rapid growth, attracting new members and political actors, a development that some observers believe has intensified internal competition for control.
Political commentators warn that prolonged uncertainty could undermine the party’s organisational cohesion, particularly as preparations for the 2027 elections gradually begin.
Institutional authority and party organs
In reaffirming that Julius Abure remains national chairman until 2028, the Abure-led faction emphasised that only the party’s recognised organs—the National Working Committee, National Executive Council, and National Convention—possess the authority to determine leadership matters.
The statement urged members and supporters to “disregard misinformation” and rely strictly on constitutional procedures. It further maintained that attempts to delegitimise the current leadership through parallel structures would weaken the party’s democratic framework.
Observers note that intra-party democracy remains a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s political system. Disputes over tenure extensions, convention legitimacy, and caretaker arrangements frequently test the balance between internal autonomy and judicial oversight.
Implications for Nigeria’s opposition landscape
The Labour Party’s internal crisis carries broader political implications. As one of the prominent opposition platforms in recent electoral cycles, its stability is closely watched by political stakeholders and voters alike.
Analysts argue that clarity on whether Julius Abure remains national chairman until 2028 will be essential for restoring investor confidence, attracting strategic alliances, and maintaining grassroots mobilisation.
For now, the leadership question remains unresolved in the court of public opinion, even as legal processes continue. Both factions appear determined to defend their positions, signalling that reconciliation efforts may require high-level mediation.
As Nigeria’s political environment evolves, the outcome of this leadership dispute could shape not only the internal dynamics of the Labour Party but also the configuration of opposition politics heading toward the next general election cycle.
