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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the leader of the Labour Party caretaker committee.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Wednesday. He relied on a Supreme Court ruling given on April 4, 2025.
The court ruled that Senator Usman is the lawful head of the party’s caretaker committee. This leadership will remain until the Labour Party holds a national convention.
Justice Lifu directed INEC to immediately recognise the Nenadi Usman led committee as the only valid authority of the Labour Party.
The court stated that the tenure of Julius Abure as national chairman had expired. It rejected his claim that the matter was an internal party issue beyond the court’s powers.
According to the judgment, the caretaker committee was formed out of necessity. This followed clear directives from the Supreme Court.
Abure had earlier asked the Federal High Court to validate his position as party chairman. Both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal initially ruled in his favour.
However, the Supreme Court later overturned those decisions.
In a lead judgment, Justice Inyang Okoro upheld the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and Hon Darlington Nwokocha. The court dismissed Abure’s cross appeal.
The Supreme Court also warned political parties to follow their constitutions strictly. It stated that officials must leave office when their tenure ends.
The latest ruling supports an earlier decision by INEC. The electoral body had rejected candidates submitted by the Abure led faction for the FCT area council elections.
INEC said Abure no longer had the legal standing to conduct party primaries after the Supreme Court ruling.
Abure Faction to Appeal
The Julius Abure led faction has rejected the judgment. The group announced plans to appeal the decision.
The faction argued that the court misunderstood the Supreme Court ruling. It claimed courts do not have the power to appoint party leaders.
Party members were urged to remain calm. The faction said it would pursue all legal options to protect the party.
