Court sacks Abure, recognises Nenadi Usman as labour party chairman

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recognised the Usman Nenadi-led executive committee of the Labour Party, effectively sacking Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu relied on the April 4, 2025 decision of the Supreme Court to affirm Senator Nenadi Usman as the valid leader of the Labour Party.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise the Senator Usman-led caretaker committee as the only lawful authority empowered to represent the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Usman challenging Abure’s continued claim to the office of national chairman. Apart from Abure, the Nigerian Labour Congress was listed as a defendant in the suit.

Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court clearly showed that Abure’s tenure as national chairman of the party had expired.

He dismissed Abure’s argument that the dispute was an internal party matter beyond judicial intervention, ruling instead that the establishment of the Labour Party caretaker committee was a necessity arising from the Supreme Court’s earlier order.

The court noted that the apex court’s decision had effectively brought Abure’s tenure to an end, making judicial clarification inevitable.

On January 9, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee also announced its recognition of Usman as national chairman, describing the decision as a reaffirmation of the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 judgment.

The party further stated that all congresses and the national convention would be conducted strictly in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, urging members at all levels to actively participate in the forthcoming congress processes.