The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a significant ruling in the protracted leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP), affirming the sack of Julius Abure as national chairman and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognize the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the party's legitimate authority.
Presiding over the case on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, Justice Inyang Ekwo upheld the position that Abure's tenure had expired, in accordance with a prior Supreme Court judgment. The decision effectively resolves one phase of the internal factional dispute that has divided the party since earlier legal battles over its national convention and executive composition.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who was in court during the proceedings, confirmed the outcome: “Honourable Justice Lifu has just upheld Senator Nnadi Esther Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the only valid and lawful leadership of the Labour Party. The Judge reaffirmed that by the Supreme Court’s judgement, Julius Abure’s tenure had since elapsed. The judge ordered INEC to recognize Nnadi Usman forthwith.”
The ruling mandates INEC to update its records and dealings with the LP to reflect Usman's caretaker committee as the official leadership structure. This development is expected to influence party activities, including candidate nominations, conventions, and preparations for future elections.
The Labour Party has faced ongoing turbulence since the 2023 general elections, with rival claims to leadership between Abure's faction—backed by figures like Peter Obi—and alternative structures supported by other stakeholders. Usman's caretaker committee was established as an interim measure to stabilize the party amid the disputes.
Neither Abure nor representatives from his faction have issued an immediate public response to the latest judgment. It remains unclear whether an appeal will be filed, though such moves have characterized previous rounds of the legal tussle.
This court intervention reinforces judicial oversight in political party affairs, emphasizing adherence to constitutional tenures and prior apex court decisions. As INEC complies, the Labour Party may see a shift toward unified operations under the recognized caretaker leadership.
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