A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the removal of Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Senator Nenadi Esther Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the party’s lawful leadership.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Lifu, upheld the legitimacy of the caretaker committee, declaring it the only valid leadership structure of the party in line with an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court.
The development was disclosed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who said he was present in court when the judgment was delivered in a related matter.
According to Effiong, the court reaffirmed that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had elapsed, stressing that the Supreme Court’s decision had already settled the issue of leadership within the party.
“The judge reaffirmed that by the Supreme Court’s judgment, Julius Abure’s tenure had since elapsed,” Effiong stated.
Justice Lifu consequently directed INEC to immediately recognise Senator Nenadi Usman and the National Caretaker Committee as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party.
The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the party’s internal stability and its preparations for future electoral contests.
