By Ayomide Otitoju
The Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party has announced plans to immediately appeal a Federal High Court judgment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that recognised Senator Esther Nenadi Usman’s Caretaker Committee as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu relied on the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court verdict to declare Usman as the valid leader of the party.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said the judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s ruling, which clearly stated that courts have no authority to appoint leadership for political parties, and that such matters are internal affairs of the parties.
“The judgment was a clear contradiction of the Supreme Court decision,” Ifoh said. “Although we are yet to see the Certified True Copy of the judgment, it is clear from the brief we have received that the party will appeal.”
He raised concerns about the handling of the case, noting that it was initially assigned to Justice Omotosho before being reassigned to Justice Lifu, and that the party was denied the opportunity to respond to counter-affidavits before judgment was delivered.
Ifoh also highlighted perceived inconsistencies in the judgment, pointing out that the Court of Appeal had previously affirmed Abure’s National Working Committee as the authentic leadership of the party. He described the Federal High Court’s recognition of the Caretaker Committee as a “somersault” and a contradiction of Supreme Court guidance.
He further argued that the court’s claim of a leadership vacuum was baseless, noting that the party’s tenure was extended through a national convention held on March 27, 2024, before the scheduled expiration in June 2024.
Despite the ruling, the Abure-led faction called on members to remain calm, assuring them that all legal avenues would be pursued to protect the party’s leadership. “The party is not for sale, and no amount of financial influence will make us abdicate our position,” Ifoh said.
