The ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) eased on Friday after the Supreme Court overturned a ruling that had affirmed Mr. Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman. In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court nullified the earlier judgment from the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had upheld Abure’s position. The judgment, authored by Justice Inyang Okoro and delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, criticized the appellate court’s interference in the matter, asserting it had no jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court emphasized that leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters and not subject to judicial intervention. As such, it ruled in favor of an appeal brought by former Finance Minister Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, who were previously appointed as Chair and Secretary of a caretaker committee established to manage the party’s affairs.

The apex court also rejected a cross-appeal filed by Abure and advised political parties to adhere to their internal procedures when selecting officers. It urged party leaders whose terms have expired to relinquish their positions voluntarily. No legal costs were awarded to any party in the case.

This legal battle stemmed from an earlier decision by the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove Abure and establish a 29-member caretaker committee led by Usman and Nwokocha. The move followed a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, convened by Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

In response, Abure approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking validation of his leadership. Justice Emeka Nwite ruled in his favor on October 8, 2024, directing INEC to recognize his leadership. The Court of Appeal later upheld this ruling, but the Supreme Court overturned both decisions on Friday.

Reactions to the Supreme Court Ruling:

House of Reps Labour Caucus Responds

The LP caucus in the House of Representatives described the Supreme Court’s decision as a caution to leaders who act as though they are above democratic norms. Caucus leader Rep. Afam Victor Ogene hailed the verdict as a vital step toward party stability and rejuvenation, expressing gratitude to the court for what he called a life-saving judgment for the party.

Abure Faction Declares Victory

In a contrasting response, the Abure-led faction claimed the ruling validated his leadership. LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh stated in Abuja that the verdict reaffirmed Abure as the legitimate national chairman.

Caretaker Committee’s Reaction

Meanwhile, Senator Darlington Nwokocha of the LP National Caretaker Committee (LPNCC) praised the judgment as a major win for both the Labour Party and Nigerian democracy. He characterized the decision as a landmark moment for the future of political accountability in the country.