S’court verdict on LP’s leadership crisis a tonic for party’s reinvention, says reps caucus

The Labour Party (LP) house of representatives caucus has commended the judgment nullifying an appeal that recognised Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.

BACKGROUND

In February 2024, Oluchi Oparah, the party’s national treasurer, accused Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion — a claim the LP chairman denied and threatened legal action.

Following the allegation, party members demanded Abure’s removal as the LP national chairman.

In April 2023, the federal capital territory (FCT) high court issued an order restraining Abure from parading himself as the national chairman of the party.

Ruling on an ex parte application, Hamza Muazu, the presiding judge, also restrained Farouk Ibrahim, national secretary; Clement Ojukwu, national organising secretary; and Oparah; from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

On September 4, 2024, Nenadi Usman, a former minister, was appointed to chair a 29-member caretaker committee after Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, convened a stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Umuahia.

Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate in 2023, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, were among the top party members who attended the meeting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also invalidated Abure’s leadership, arguing that the national convention violated the constitution and Electoral Act.

The commission said the party failed to meet legal requirements for holding the convention, insisting that Abure’s tenure as LP national chairman expired in June 2024.

However, in a judgment on October 8, 2024, the federal high court affirmed the Abure-led leadership of the LP and the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced the party executives.

In another judgment delivered on January 17, 2025, the court of appeal ruled that its earlier decision in November 2024, recognising Abure as the party’s chairman, remained valid and had not been overturned by any court.

Hamma Barka, who read the lead judgment, held that the appellate court did not consider the two separate appeals filed by the appellants since they bordered on party leadership, which the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on.

He said anything that is done outside jurisdiction amounts to “null and void”.

Consequently, the court voided a judgment of the federal high court delivered on October 8, 2024, on the grounds that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

However, in a verdict delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to have affirmed Abure as chairman of the LP, since the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

It held that party leadership matters are internal affairs over which the courts lack jurisdiction.

The court then proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure-led faction of the LP for lacking in merit.

‘A TONIC FOR LP’S REINVENTION’ 

In a statement released on Friday, Afam Ogene, the LP house of representatives’ caucus leader, said the supreme court’s ruling is a “tonic and elixir” for the party’s “stability and reinvention”.

“This ruling serves as a warning to leaders who play ‘god’ in a democracy, where the people ought to hold the ultimate authority,” the statement reads.

Afam said the apex court verdict is a “veritable tonic for the revitalisation of the party” which has been engulfed by leadership tussle.

He said LP will “hasten to implement necessary mechanisms” to restore internal peace and get the party back on track to reassure members of its viability for future elections.

“In fact, by next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, led by respected former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward,” Afam said.

The lawmaker said the party’s leadership crisis could have been prevented if the advice of the caucus was heeded and the concerns of other stakeholders were addressed.

Afam said party stakeholders cautioned Abure to be sensitive in managing the party’s affairs.

“But in a brazen display of arrogance and naked power-mongering, Abure had ignored these warnings, thus creating an environment for crisis to fester,” the legislator said.

“For instance, in March 2024, LP reps called for the postponement of the National Convention of the party scheduled to take place by the end of that month, in order to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.

“The Caucus emphasized at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts.

“And as direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.

“But rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027.

“That was not only insensitive but undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, unity, sustainability and progress of the party.

“It is this uncertainty of not being sure of getting party ticket in the next general elections that has made the Caucus lose as much as six members.”

Afam added that the supreme court’s “decisive judgment” has offered the party a “new lease of life”.