Abure rejects Appeal Court ruling, heads to Supreme Court

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, has rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal concerning the party’s leadership dispute, describing it as “unacceptable” and “against all known principles of law.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had earlier in the year ruled in favour of Senator Nenadi Usman as the authentic Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, which prompted Abure to approach the Court of Appeal.

Speaking after the ruling, Abure said the decision does not reflect the position of the party, insisting that the issue of political party leadership remains an internal affair that courts have historically been reluctant to interfere in.

He argued that the court failed to properly consider the validity of the party’s national convention held on 27 March 2024, in Nnewi, which he maintained remains valid and subsisting for a four-year tenure.

According to him, claims that the current executive’s tenure had expired were “false and unacceptable,” adding that the convention remains the legitimate basis for the party’s leadership structure.

Abure also faulted the Umuahia meeting that produced a caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional.

He maintained that only the National Chairman and National Secretary have the authority to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Rejecting the ruling in its entirety, Abure confirmed that the party has resolved to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.

“We have put our legal team together and we are going to file an appeal and move to the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Abure-led Labour Party leadership insisted it would pursue the matter to its final legal conclusion.