LP Leadership: Court Affirms Nenadi Usman-Led Committee, Orders INEC Recognition
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has recognised the Usman Nenadi-led executive committee of the party, effectively sacking Julius Abure as its national chairman.
In delivering judgment, Justice Lifu relied on the April 4, 2025, verdict of the Supreme Court, declaring Senator Nenadi as the valid leader of the party.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise the Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only legitimate authority of the Labour Party, pending the next national convention.
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The judgment followed a suit filed by Senator Nenadi.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was also cited as a defendant. Justice Lifu noted that evidence before the court established that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had elapsed.
He dismissed claims that the matter was a non-justiciable internal affair, stating that the establishment of the Caretaker Committee was “a necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling.
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On January 9, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) reaffirmed Senator Nenadi as its national chairman.
The party’s statement noted that this move aligns with the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025, ruling, which recognised the end of Julius Abure’s tenure.
“The NWC reaffirmed that all congresses and the National Convention of the Party shall hold accordingly, in strict compliance with the provisions of the Party Constitution.
Members at all levels are therefore encouraged to actively participate in the congress processes,” the Nenadi leadership said.
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The Julius Abure-led faction of the LP, however, said it would appeal the Federal High Court ruling.
In a statement issued in Abuja by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the party said the judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s clear position that courts cannot appoint leadership for political parties, and that such matters are internal party affairs.
Ifoh said, “the judgment was a clear contradiction of the Supreme Court judgment, which clearly stated that no court has the power to appoint leadership for any political party and that leadership issues are internal affairs of political parties.”
He added that the Federal High Court is not the final court and that the party would pursue its position in the Court of Appeal.
While the Certified True Copy of the judgment is still awaited, the Abure-led faction confirmed its intention to appeal. Ifoh also raised concerns about how the case was handled in court.
He noted the reassignment of the case from Justice Omotosho to Justice Peter Lifu, the lack of opportunity to respond to counter-affidavits, and pre-judgment jubilation by opponents as troubling.
According to him, these developments suggested bias and irregularity.
He further argued that the Court of Appeal had previously affirmed Abure’s National Working Committee as the authentic leadership, and that the Supreme Court had consistently maintained that party leadership matters are internal affairs.
“Ironically, today, a Federal High Court has made a somersault and pronounced someone as the Caretaker National Chairman of the party. So what is the judiciary turning into?
“To us, this is a clear contradiction of what the Supreme Court said. The apex court held that all matters relating to the leadership of a political party are internal affairs of the party, and that has been its consistent position,” he added.
Ifoh also disputed claims that the Abure-led executive’s tenure had expired, stating that the National Convention held in March 2024 produced the current leadership before the scheduled expiration in June 2024.
He described the court’s assertion of a leadership vacuum as baseless and without legal merit.
Despite the ruling, the Abure-led group called on members to remain calm, reassuring them that the leadership would continue to pursue justice through legal channels.
The party also warned that its leadership position is non-negotiable, emphasising that no financial or political pressure would force it to relinquish control.
The FCT High Court judgment came less than two weeks after the Nenadi group affirmed Governor Alex Otti of Abia State as its national leader.
The announcement positioned Otti—currently the party’s most prominent elected office holder—as the central rallying figure for the LP’s structures nationwide.
Similarly, the party formally wished its 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, well following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“The NWC, in a unanimous decision, affirmed its recognition of His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, as the National Leader of the Labour Party.
“The National leadership of the Labour Party wishes His Excellency Mr Peter Obi well in his future political endeavours and in his new political party,” the communiqué read in part.
Obi polled 6,984,520 votes in the 2023 presidential election, coming third behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former Anambra State governor joined a coalition of opposition leaders in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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