KEY POINTS
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Federal High Court directs INEC to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the legitimate leadership of the Labour Party.
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The court reaffirmed the Supreme Court ruling that Julius Abure’s tenure had expired, invalidating his claim as national chairman.
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The decision provides the LP with legal clarity, resolves internal disputes, and positions the party to focus on the 2027 elections.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially recognized the Nenadi Usman-led national caretaker committee as the rightful leaders of the Labour Party, LP.
Leading On Wednesday, Judge Peter Lifu told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept Usman’s committee as the party’s “only valid authority.” This decision supports the Supreme Court’s April 2025 decision, which overturned the Court of Appeal’s earlier order that recognized Julius Abure as the LP national chairman.
The court said that the evidence it had shown that Abure’s time as national chairman was over, so his claim to leadership was no longer valid.
Background of the Leadership Crisis
Since 2023, there has been a fight for leadership in the Labour Party between two groups: Abure’s group and the Usman-led committee. Peter Obi, who ran for president on the LP ticket in 2023, was connected to the Usman faction but has since joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 elections.
In April 2023, the Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered Abure to stop acting like the national chairman, which made the conflict worse. After that, Lamidi Apapa, who was the deputy national chairman at the time, took over as acting chairman. The Court of Appeal later threw out the restraining order, but arguments about Abure’s legitimacy went on.
During a national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, in March 2024, Abure was re-elected. INEC, on the other hand, did not recognize this convention because it was not present during the election process. In response, a stakeholders’ meeting in September 2024, called by Abia State Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, chose Nenadi Usman to lead a 29-member caretaker committee.
The court’s ruling makes it clear and legal for Usman’s caretaker committee to run the party’s business. It also settles ongoing disagreements that were threatening the party’s stability and its ability to take part in future elections.
As Nigeria gets ready for the 2027 general elections, this decision comes at a very important time. Now that the Labour Party has settled its internal disagreements, it can focus on strengthening its structures, getting members to work together, and presenting a united front in national politics.
Political experts say that the recognition of the caretaker committee could affect how parties work together and who they choose to run for office in the next elections. The choice is also likely to boost faith in INEC’s ability to make sure that political parties follow the rules during elections.
