The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the legitimacy of the Nenadi Usman-led executive of the Labour Party, effectively removing Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu relied on the Supreme Court’s verdict of April 4, 2025, to declare Senator Nenadi Usman as the valid leader of the party and uphold the caretaker committee formed under her leadership.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise the Usman-led Labour Party Caretaker Committee as the only lawful authority to represent the party, pending the conduct of a national convention.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Usman challenging Abure’s continued claim to the chairmanship. The Nigerian Labour Congress was also listed as a defendant in the case.
Justice Lifu held that evidence before the court showed that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had elapsed, dismissing his argument that the matter was an internal party issue beyond judicial intervention.
According to the court, the establishment of the Labour Party caretaker committee was a necessity arising from the directive of the Supreme Court, making the issue justiciable and subject to judicial determination.
