In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Julius Abure as the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party, ending months of leadership disputes.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite validated the March 2024 Nnewi convention that re-elected Abure and dismissed claims by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party’s leadership was illegitimate.
The court’s decision not only upholds Abure’s leadership but also orders INEC to recognize and engage with the Labour Party under his leadership, reversing its earlier stance that Abure’s tenure had expired.
“I hold that the defendants’ attempt to invalidate the leadership of the plaintiff has failed. The plaintiff has proven its case, and I hereby compel the defendant to accord all rights and privileges to the Labour Party under Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership,” Justice Nwite declared.
This ruling comes after INEC argued that the Labour Party’s national convention violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The electoral body had previously excluded the party from participating in critical pre-election activities, citing Abure’s purportedly expired tenure. INEC maintained that the Labour Party no longer had valid leadership, an assertion that prompted the party to seek legal redress.
INEC’s legal counsel, Tanko Inuwa SAN, insisted that the March 2024 convention was unconstitutional, as Abure’s term had ended in June 2024, leading to INEC’s refusal to recognize his leadership. However, the court dismissed this position, stating that the Labour Party had met the necessary legal requirements and that Abure’s leadership remained valid.
This ruling is expected to bring stability to the Labour Party as it prepares for upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states, where it has been facing significant political challenges.
The party now stands to fully participate in these elections, with its leadership dispute resolved.
The decision is also a critical moment for Nigeria’s democracy, emphasizing the role of the judiciary in safeguarding internal democracy within political parties.
All eyes will now be on INEC to see how swiftly it complies with the court’s ruling as the Labour Party gears up for its next political battles.