Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed an appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party, affirming Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s legitimate leader.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which recognised Usman as the National Chairman of the party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to accord her due recognition.
The three-member panel held that the leadership dispute had already been conclusively determined by the Supreme Court, which, on April 4, 2025, nullified the convention that produced Abure as chairman.
The court ruled that Abure’s appeal lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process, noting that he had engaged in forum shopping despite clear pronouncements by the apex court.
It further affirmed that the lower court acted within its constitutional powers under Section 251 by compelling INEC to recognise Usman, stressing that such intervention was necessary to ensure compliance by a statutory government agency.
The appellate court also validated the constitution of the party’s caretaker committee led by Usman, describing it as a “doctrine of necessity” to fill a leadership vacuum within the party.
In a stinging rebuke, the justices criticised Abure for persisting in laying claim to the party’s leadership in defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Consequently, the court imposed a cost of N10m against him for wasting judicial time on a matter it said had already been settled.
Reacting, Usman described the judgment as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, commending the judiciary for upholding justice.
She said the ruling had put to rest lingering disputes over the party’s leadership and reaffirmed confidence in the nation’s judicial system.
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