Labour Party Leadership Crisis Deepens As Obi, Otti’s Caretaker Committee Challenges Abure’s Authority

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By Reporter

Reports have it that, the intra crisis rocking Labour Party (LP) has escalated. This comes even as the Court of Appeal ruled that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case on the leadership struggle.

The latest hostility was disclosed yesterday, Saturday 18, January, 2025, as the 29-member caretaker committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, demanded that Julius Abure should stop parading himself as the party’s national chairman.

The committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, insists it remains the party’s legitimate leadership body.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Usman declared that party stakeholders empowered the committee during an emergency convention. She further criticized Abure’s claims to the chairmanship despite recent court rulings.

Reports have it that, the tussle comes on the heels of a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on Friday in Abuja, which affirmed Abure as the party’s national chairman.

The appellate court upheld the Labour Party’s March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, declaring it valid.

Justice Hamma Barka, who presided over the three-member panel, ruled that the party’s leadership issues were not justiciable, deeming any actions outside the court’s jurisdiction null and void.

The decision invalidated an earlier Federal High Court ruling delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite.

The Court of Appeal Determined That “The Trial Court that Affirmed Julius Abure as National Chairman of Labour Party LP Lacked Jurisdiction to have determined the leadership of the Labour Party and therefore a mere academic exercise”

The Court of Appeal decided that the two appeals heard:

Senator Esther Nenadi Usman & others V Labour Party & others (CA/ABJ/CA/1217// 2024

INEC V Labour Party (CA/ABJ/CV/1232/ 2024) could not determine the leadership of the Labour Party having emanated from an incompetent suit. “As the Trial Court lacked jurisdiction to have determined the leadership of the Labour Party and therefore a Mere Academic Exercise.”

Meaning that Labour Party does not have a National Chairman and as such, Julius Abure is not the Labour Party LP National Chairman and only the party can determine the leadership of the party.

They alleged that the Federal High Court made significant errors, lacked jurisdiction, and violated their right to a fair hearing.

The statement read, “As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we, on behalf of ourselves and other members, deem it necessary to issue this press release to clarify and set the record straight.

“The Court of Appeal affirmed that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, filed before the Federal High Court by Julius Abure, concerned a leadership dispute over which the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction.

“The Federal High Court erred and acted without jurisdiction by entertaining the leadership dispute brought before it by Julius Abure. It also violated our right to a fair hearing by failing to consider our counter-affidavit opposing the suit before it.

“Finally, we wish to remind the public that, on 4th September 2024, the Labour Party constituted a National Caretaker Committee, appointing us as the national chairman and secretary.

Both have been diligently and effectively carrying out their duties to the admiration of stakeholders and the entire membership of the party.”