Court slams Abure for abuse of process, forum shopping in Labour party dispute
A three member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision, upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court which reaffirmed the position of the Supreme Court of Nigeria removing Abure as national chairman of the party.
In the lead judgment delivered by Oyejoju Oyewumi, the court held that the apex court had already settled the leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Abure as chairman.
The court further affirmed the directive compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.
It agreed with the lower court that it had the constitutional authority under Section 251 to compel a federal agency to carry out its statutory duties, including the recognition of party leadership.
The justices also endorsed the constitution of the Labour party caretaker committee headed by Usman, describing it as a doctrine of necessity to fill a leadership vacuum within the party.
The court criticised Abure for abuse of court process, accusing him of forum shopping by instituting a parallel suit at a Nasarawa state high court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court. It further faulted his continued claim to the leadership of the party despite what it described as a clear and unambiguous ruling by the apex court.
Consequently, the appeal was dismissed for lacking merit and being an abuse of court process. The court imposed a cost of ten million naira against Abure for wasting judicial time on a matter it said had already been conclusively determined.
Reacting to the judgment, Usman described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. She commended the judiciary for what she called its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice in the face of attempts to undermine its integrity.