The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to declare Abure as LP chairman, stating that the matter concerned internal party affairs which fall outside the court’s purview.
The court upheld the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and another petitioner, declaring it meritorious. It dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Abure’s faction as unmeritorious.
The judgment reinforces the principle that political party leadership disputes are internal matters that should not be adjudicated by courts. This ruling creates uncertainty around LP’s leadership structure and comes amid ongoing controversies, including recent calls by the party’s caretaker committee for Abure’s prosecution over alleged forgery.
Political analysts note this development could deepen existing factional divisions within the opposition party as it prepares for future elections. The LP will now need to resolve its leadership question through internal mechanisms in line with the court’s position on non-interference in party affairs.
