A court of Appeal sitting in Benin, has affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), ending controversy over the authentic leader of the party.
The presiding judge, Hamma Barka, made this declaration in the ruling on two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Court of Appeal stated that it did not address the issue of Labour Party leadership, as such matters are not justiciable.
The three-member panel confirmed on Friday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must give the party led by Abure the same rights and privileges as any other registered political party in Nigeria, as previously decided by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ¹.
While dismissing the suit, Justice Barka reiterated the court’s earlier ruling of November 13 last year, affirming that Abure remains the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party
In a statement issued by the labour party on its official page confirming the declaration, members acknowledged this development citing they have emerged victorious over their opposition.
It said, “Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City affirmed Comrade Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party. In the case of Mr Lucky Shaibu v. Julius Abure & 5 ORS (Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), His Lordships Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, Fatima Omoro Akinbami JCA and Hon. Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi JCA in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the Appellant”
“It will be recalled that one Lucky Shauibu who claimed to be a member of Labour Party in Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East of Edo State suspended the chairman of Labour Party. In his lead judgment Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, affirmed the decision of the High Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the national chairman of Labour Party in line with Article 13 and 17 of the Constitution of the Party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022 particularly when the appellant has been described by the party as unknown”
“The court unanimously nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Com. Julius Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension”.
