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The Labour Party’s internal leadership crisis escalated on Saturday as the 29-member caretaker committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, demanded that Julius Abure cease presenting himself as the party’s national chairman.
The committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, insists it remains the party’s legitimate leadership body.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Usman declared that party stakeholders empowered the committee during an emergency convention. She further criticized Abure’s claims to the chairmanship despite recent court rulings.
Naija News reports that the tussle comes on the heels of a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on Friday in Abuja, which affirmed Abure as the party’s national chairman.
The appellate court upheld the Labour Party’s March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, declaring it valid.
Justice Hamma Barka, who presided over the three-member panel, ruled that the party’s leadership issues were not justiciable, deeming any actions outside the court’s jurisdiction null and void.
The decision invalidated an earlier Federal High Court ruling delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite.
Caretaker Committee Rejects Ruling
Despite the appellate court’s verdict, the caretaker committee, in a statement co-signed by Senator Usman and its National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, criticized the judgement.
They alleged that the Federal High Court made significant errors, lacked jurisdiction, and violated their right to a fair hearing.
The statement read, “As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we, on behalf of ourselves and other members, deem it necessary to issue this press release to clarify and set the record straight.
“The Court of Appeal affirmed that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, filed before the Federal High Court by Julius Abure, concerned a leadership dispute over which the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction.
“The Federal High Court erred and acted without jurisdiction by entertaining the leadership dispute brought before it by Julius Abure. It also violated our right to a fair hearing by failing to consider our counter-affidavit opposing the suit before it.
“Finally, we wish to remind the public that, on 4th September 2024, the Labour Party constituted a National Caretaker Committee, appointing us as the national chairman and secretary. Both have been diligently and effectively carrying out their duties to the admiration of stakeholders and the entire membership of the party.”
