By Our Reporter
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, as the legitimate leader of the Labour Party (LP).
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu upheld Usman’s leadership based on the April 4, 2025 decision of the Supreme Court. The court consequently removed Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.
Justice Lifu directed INEC to immediately recognise the Nenadi Usman–led National Caretaker Committee as the only lawful authority of the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Usman, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, in which Abure and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) were listed as defendants.
The judge held that evidence before the court showed that Abure’s tenure had expired and that the party could not be left without leadership. He rejected Abure’s argument that the matter was an internal party affair and therefore non-justiciable, stating that the constitution of a caretaker committee was a necessary outcome of the Supreme Court’s verdict.
Justice Lifu noted that all issues raised by Usman were resolved in her favour, adding that ruling otherwise would amount to judicial insubordination, as the court could not contradict the apex court’s decision.
The court therefore reaffirmed Abure’s removal and ordered INEC to recognise the Usman-led caretaker committee as the lawful leadership of the Labour Party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee had earlier removed Abure following a prolonged leadership crisis and constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, with Usman as chairman. The decision was taken at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, and hosted by Governor Alex Otti. The meeting was chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
Abure had challenged his removal in court, claiming he was duly elected National Chairman at the party’s March 27, 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State. Although earlier judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal favoured Abure, those decisions were later set aside by the Supreme Court.