The crisis within the opposition Labour Party (LP) took a new turn as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Tuesday, affirmed Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.
In a ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite, issued an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to validate and recognise the Abure leadership of the party.
Similarly, the court validated the March 2024 Nnewi national convention of the party which produced the Abure-led executive committee.
“I am of the view that based on these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants’ attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
“The plaintiff has proved his case, and I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party, under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure, all the rights and privileges accorded to a political party duly registered in Nigeria,” the court ruled.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, the plaintiff (LP) sued INEC as sole defendant.
The plaintiff, had in the originating summons, asked the court to decide, among other things, whether by the combined interpretation of Sections 251(1)(r) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 43 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the plaintiff is entitled to be issued the Notice of the Refresher Training for Upload of Political Party Agents onto the Independent National Electoral Commission Portal for the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled to hold on 16th November 2024 by the defendant.
Similarly, the LP prayed the court for an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party, under the leadership of Abure, all the rights and privileges accorded to a political party duly registered in Nigeria and a cost of N5million for the action.
INEC, it would be recalled, had said it was not recognising the Abure-led LP, following which the party accused the duo of its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and Abia state Governor Alex Otti of betrayal.
…INEC
But in its counter-affidavit, INEC challenged the party’s exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The position was made by INEC’s legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa (SAN), who argued that the party’s suit sought declaratory reliefs that could not be granted based on admissions alone and that the party needed to prove its case.
The electoral body also contended that the party’s leadership, including Abure, was invalid as the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as party chair was in violation of both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC also told the court that it only deals with parties with legitimate leadership in place, stressing that since the party could not meet the legal requirements for holding its national convention, it therefore implied that the party had no valid leadership.
On this note, the Commission prayed the court to discountenance the plaintiff’s suit.
Justice Hamza Muazu of a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had last year April issued an order restraining Abure, the party’s national secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, the organising secretary, Clement Ojukwu, and treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as executive members of the party.
…Caretaker c’ttee vows to appeal
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the party’s caretaker committee chairperson, Senator Nenadi Usman, has vowed to appeal the judgement.
In a statement she personally signed Tuesday, Senator Usman said the committee decided on that line of action after with the trio of Obi, Otti, and the secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, to deliberate on the ruling.
“This evening, I met with His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha (Secretary, LP Caretaker Committee). We deliberated on the judgment passed today.
“The case actually preceded the formation of the Caretaker Committee. However, after being briefed, the Caretaker Committee decided to join the case. Consequently, we have resolved to appeal the judgment accordingly.
“I, therefore, call on all party members to remain calm and maintain peace as we continue our reconciliation efforts.”