By Sodiq Adelakun
The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the party’s legitimate leader.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Abure’s tenure had expired and held that the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee remains the only lawful authority to manage the affairs of the party pending a national convention.
The court based its decision on the April 4, 2025 ruling of the Supreme Court, which nullified earlier judgments that had favoured Abure.
Justice Lifu rejected claims that the matter was an internal party issue beyond judicial review, describing the caretaker arrangement as “a necessity arising from the Supreme Court’s order.”
The suit was filed by Senator Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance, against Abure and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following a prolonged leadership dispute within the party.
The crisis began after the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) removed Abure and set up a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by Usman.
The decision was taken at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting hosted in Umuahia, Abia State, by Governor Alex Otti, and chaired by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Although Abure initially secured favourable rulings from the High Court and the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court overturned those decisions, warning political party officials to respect tenure limits and comply with internal rules.
