The Labour Party’s leadership crisis reached a turning point on Friday as the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by Julius Abure against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), affirming that he is no longer the party’s National Chairman.
Inits suit, the court struck out Abure’s case for lack of jurisdiction, aligning with the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 ruling, which had nullified previous recognitions of his leadership.
Reacting to the judgment, Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, said the ruling “removes every lingering doubt” about Abure’s status.
“This is another unambiguous affirmation of the rule of law and the Supreme Court’s binding pronouncements,” Usman stated. “The chapter is closed, we must now put distractions behind us and rebuild the Labour Party into the disciplined, people-centred movement Nigerians deserve.”
INEC’s counter-affidavit in the case further clarified the situation, asserting under oath that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the party’s National Executive Committee, expired in June 2024. It also stated that the controversial “Nnewi National Convention” held on March 27, 2024, was neither monitored nor recognised by the commission, as it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and the Labour Party’s own constitution.
Usman commended INEC for its “clarity, courage, and institutional integrity,” and urged all party members to “respect the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the courts.”
