Ogona Anita
The Supreme Court has removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to recognize him, as party leadership disputes are internal matters beyond judicial intervention.
The apex court upheld an appeal by Senator Esther Usman and another, declaring it meritorious. It also noted that Abure’s tenure had already expired. As a result, the court dismissed a cross-appeal filed by Abure’s faction
Meanwhile the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has welcomed Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court, which removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
The caucus noted that Abure’s exit would bring stability and reinvention to the party.
According to the caucus, the judgment is a timely counsel to leaders who play god in the affairs of men, particularly in a democracy.
In a statement issued on Friday shortly after the Supreme Court pronouncement, the leader of the caucus, Afam Ogene, described the development as a “Veritable tonic for the revitalisation of the party” that has been engulfed by leadership tussle in recent times.
He commended the apex court of the judgment, stressing that LP can now experience a new lease of life.
The apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which recognised Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the highest court in the land held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure as the National Chairman of the LP, having earlier determined that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.
The Anambra lawmaker added that with the judgment, “The party will hasten to implement necessary mechanisms to restore internal peace and get the party back on track, to reassure its teeming members of the party’s viability for future elections and its commitment to leadership that prioritises the interests and welfare of the people.
“Next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, led by respected former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward.”
Ogene further argued that the crisis which had threatened the stability of the LP in recent times, could have been prevented if Abure and his team had heeded the caucus’ advice, or addressed the concerns of other stakeholders.
“These stakeholders had urged caution and greater sensitivity in managing the party’s affairs. But in a brazen display of arrogance and naked power-mongering, Abure had ignored these warnings, thus creating an environment for crisis to fester.
“For instance, in March 2024, LP House of Representatives members called for the postponement of the national convention of the party scheduled to take place by the end of that month, to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.
“The caucus had emphasised at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts. As direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.
“Rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027. That was not only insensitive but undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, unity, sustainability, and progress of the party,” the statement read in part.
According to Ogene, “It is this uncertainty of not being sure of getting a party ticket in the next general elections that has made the caucus lose as many as six members.”
