The Supreme Court’s Friday judgement on the leadership dispute within the Labour Party (LP) has sparked off confusion, with both Senator Nenadi Usman and Abure interpreting the verdict differently as it suits them.
In the wake of the crisis, a factional National Working Committee of the party and the top echelon of the Party including Peter Obi, Alex Otti and elected lawmakers under the Labour Party had in Abia zeroed in on Senator Nenadi Usman as Chairman Caretaker Committee for six months following the expiration of the tenure of Barrister Julius Abure’s chairmanship.
On the other hand, Abure refuted that idea, which propelled Nenadi to approach a high court sitting in Abuja and, subsequently, the Appeal Court before quietly approaching the apex court, whose judgment was delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025.
As of the time of filing this report, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgement was not available, Daily Sun reports.
Meanwhile, Nenadi, in a statement she signed, said the ruling marked a significant victory for the rule of law and Nigeria’s democracy, as it deemed her appeal meritorious and dismissed the Abure faction’s cross-appeal as unmeritorious.
She emphasized that this ruling was not a cause for triumphalism but rather a call to reaffirm the party’s commitment to its ideals and the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
“The Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which deemed Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal meritorious and dismissed the Abure faction’s cross-appeal as unmeritorious, marks a significant victory for the rule of law and Nigeria’s democracy.
“This ruling is not a cause for triumphalism, as there are no winners or losers. Instead, it’s a call to reaffirm our commitment to the Labour Party’s ideals and the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
“We must unite in purpose and vision to move the party forward. As one indivisible family, the Labour Party remains dedicated to creating a New Nigeria built on justice, equity, and people-centred governance.
“We urge all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to our shared democratic ideals. Together, we can make a New Nigeria possible”, Nenadi said.
On the other hand, Abure’s camp claimed that the Supreme Court struck out both Nenadi and Abure’s suits, saying that only political parties could determine their leaders.
According to this interpretation, Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Furthermore, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said: “Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi, Abure suits, says only Political Parties can determine who their leaders are.
“It also said that the courts dabble in the affairs of the political parties. Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“The supreme court judgment didn’t sack Labour Party national chairman Barrister Julius Abure.
“Rather, it rightly upheld the preceding and accumulated high courts and appeal court judgments upholding the immutability of responsibility of Labour Party structures to choose its leaders.
“The judgment did not also set aside the Appeal Court judgment in Labour Party vs Ebiseni and 2 others (CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024) delivered on 13 November 2024, which affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“The judgment is still valid and subsisting and has not been appealed.
“The implication is very clear. Barrister Julius Abure remains Labour Party national chairman”, Obiora said.
The conflicting interpretations have created uncertainty within the party, with some members calling for clarity on the leadership structure.
Giving a legal perspective to the development, a Constitutional Lawyer and former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister Festus Okoye, said the current constitutional provision does not allow courts to determine political parties’ leadership.
He said, “Political parties in Nigeria must realize that they are voluntary associations of members and their membership and leadership preferences are within their exclusive domain and no Court of law is permitted to interfere in such matters.
“The political parties understand this and still want to entangle the courts in their political problems and challenges.
“The Supreme Court has been firm, unambiguous, and consistent in asserting that political parties in Nigeria must grow up and run their affairs under their constitutions, rules, and procedures.
“The Supreme Court has told the political parties in no uncertain terms that it will not micromanage any of them or take over the election of their leadership or running of their affairs.
“The Courts will not choose leaders for political parties because such issues are purely an internal affair of the political party even if the party is in breach of its constitution or guidelines.
“In this case, the Supreme Court did not rule in favour of any of the parties, and it is futile for any of them to claim victory.
“The Supreme Court simply told the parties to go and resolve their internal domestic affairs within the ambit of their constitution, rules and guidelines.
“The remedy for any party that is not satisfied with the finality of the decision of the party is to exit the party. In other words, the Supreme Court declined jurisdiction and declined to interfere in their internal affair.
“The parties have their organs and must go back to those organs and resolve their issues”, Okoye said.
On the way forward, he said, “The Nigerian Bar Association must interface with political parties and prevent deliberate subversion of the independence of the Courts.
“Forcing internal disputes of parties on the courts will undermine its independence and create a dubious partisan perception of the Courts, and this is not good for our democracy”, Okoye added.
As it is, who will convey the party’s national convention or meeting that will come up with the national leadership of the party is not clear.
However, according to Obiorah, Abure remains the chairman of the party and has the party’s constitutional backing to convene such meetings.
