122
By Lizzy Chirkpi
The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has deepened, with the factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, rejecting a Federal High Court ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman–led caretaker committee.
Abure’s position was conveyed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh.
According to the statement, Abure described the judgment as inconsistent with the April 2025 decision of the Supreme Court on the party’s leadership dispute and confirmed that the ruling would be challenged at the Court of Appeal.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had earlier ruled that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired. The court consequently ordered INEC to accord recognition to a caretaker committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman, which is aligned with Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, pending the conduct of the party’s national convention.
Reacting, the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) faulted the judgment, arguing that it amounted to a misinterpretation of the Supreme Court’s verdict and an undue interference in the internal affairs of the Labour Party.
“Although we are yet to see the Certified True Copy of the judgment to fully make a comment about it, our position will become stronger when we see the CTC of the judgment.
“But generally, from the brief we have gotten so far, it is clear that the party will appeal the judgment,” Abure said.
The development further underscores the deepening rift within the Labour Party as rival factions continue to lay claim to the party’s national leadership.