The Labour Party’s leadership crisis deepened on Saturday as a 29-member caretaker committee, headed by Senator Nenadi Usman, demanded that Julius Abure stop presenting himself as the party’s national chairman.
The committee, reportedly established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, asserts that it remains the legitimate leadership structure of the Labour Party.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Usman claimed that the caretaker committee was mandated by party stakeholders during an emergency convention. She criticized Abure for continuing to assert his chairmanship despite recent legal disputes.
The controversy escalated following a Court of Appeal ruling on Friday in Abuja, which recognized Abure as the party’s national chairman. The court also upheld the Labour Party’s March 2024 national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, as valid. Justice Hamma Barka, leading the three-member appellate panel, declared that the party’s leadership disputes were non-justiciable and beyond the court’s jurisdiction, nullifying actions stemming from earlier conflicting rulings.
The appellate court’s decision overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite. The High Court had cast doubt on the legitimacy of Abure’s leadership. However, the appellate court concluded that the Labour Party’s internal leadership matters could not be adjudicated in court, solidifying Abure’s position.
Despite the appellate court’s verdict, the caretaker committee rejected the ruling, labeling it flawed and insisting that it lacked merit. In a joint statement signed by Senator Nenadi Usman and the committee’s National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, the group criticized the judiciary and reiterated their position as the legitimate leadership.
The statement read, “As the duly recognized National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we feel compelled to address the issues and clarify the record. The Court of Appeal’s judgment does not negate the errors made by the Federal High Court, including its failure to consider our counter-affidavit and its disregard for our right to a fair hearing.”
The committee also claimed that the Labour Party formally established the caretaker leadership during an emergency convention held on September 4, 2024. They stated that they have been effectively managing the party’s affairs ever since, earning the support and approval of stakeholders and members nationwide.
This internal wrangling reflects a deeper power struggle within the Labour Party, exacerbated by its rising prominence in Nigerian politics. As the party continues to battle over its leadership structure, stakeholders are concerned about the impact of these disputes on its ability to deliver on its promises and maintain cohesion ahead of future elections.
The resolution of this crisis will likely determine the Labour Party’s direction and influence on Nigeria’s political landscape in the coming years. For now, the party remains embroiled in a legal and political tug-of-war, leaving its supporters and members uncertain about its future.
