The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has reaffirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka, declared that its earlier judgment from November 13, 2024, recognizing Abure’s leadership, remains valid and has not been overturned by any court.

The ruling was delivered on Friday in response to two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and the caretaker committee, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Barka emphasized that the appellate court did not address the Labour Party’s leadership dispute, as such matters are not within the jurisdiction of the courts to decide.

According to the panel, any judgment rendered outside of jurisdiction is invalid. This reasoning rendered the October 8, 2024, Federal High Court ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite null and void, as it lacked the jurisdiction to preside over the case. “We cannot rule on whether this appeal succeeds or fails because the lower court lacked the authority to hear the case in the first place,” Justice Barka stated.

While striking out the suit for lack of jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal reiterated its earlier judgment, which firmly established that Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party. The ruling underscores the appellate court’s stance that jurisdictional limitations are critical and that decisions made without proper jurisdiction carry no legal weight. This judgment solidifies Abure’s position as the leader of the Labour Party.

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