₦airaland Forum

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, dismissed the appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party.

It will be recalled that on 21January, Peter Lifu, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, reaffirmed the earlier judgement of the Supreme Court that removed Mr Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party, to the exclusion of all others.

Dissatisfied with that decision, Mr Abure approached the Court of Appeal in suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 – Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors – seeking to overturn the judgement of the lower court.

In the lead judegment delivered by three justices – Oyejoju Oyewumi, A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike – concurring, the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court.

The court held that the Supreme Court had, on 4 April 2025, conclusively settled the leadership dispute within the Labour Party when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Mr Abure as ational chairman.

The appeal court agreed with the trial court that the court below had the powers under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel a statutory federal government agency to perform its functions when it ordered INEC to recognise Mrsi Usman as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

The appeal court also agreed with the trial court that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party headed by Mrs Usman was a doctrine of necessity needed to provide leadership in the party when there seemed to be a vacuum in the party.

The justices strongly criticised Mr Abure for abuse of court process and for going on forum shopping in a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court and for persisting in laying claim to the leadership of the party despite the clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court.

The court further held that the appeal was devoid of merit and constituted an abuse of court process.

Consequently, the court, while dismissing the appeal by Mr Abure, imposed a cost of N10,000,000 against him for wasting judicial time on a matter that had already been conclusively determined.

Reacting to the judgment, Mrs Usman, the interim national chairman of the party, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. She commended the judiciary for its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice despite attempts by certain elements to undermine its integrity.

She also expressed gratitude to party faithful and supporters across the country for their patience, loyalty, and unwavering commitment during the period of uncertainty. She urged all stakeholders to remain focused on the party’s forthcoming congresses and national convention.
The party further appreciated members of the media for their professionalism and objective reporting and calls on Nigerians to continue to place their trust in the Labour Party as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abure rejects judgement, heads to Supreme Court
Reacting, Mr Abure rejected the judgement, stating that it was against all known principles of law.

He also said he would challenge it at the Supreme Court.

“We have seen what transpired today at the Appeal Court and we want to say very clearly that the judgement is not acceptable to all of us in the Labour Party led by my humble self.

“I want to say very clearly that the judgement is against all known principles of law. The courts, the Supreme Courts and all courts in Nigeria have stated very clearly that the issues of leadership of a political party is an internal affairs of a political party,” he said.

Mr Abure debunked claim that the tenure of his national working committee had expired, noting that it was duly elected in Nnewi, Anambra State, two years ago.

“t is also not true and I disagree when people say that the tenure of this executive has expired. That is untrue and very unacceptable to us. Nigerians will recall that on the 27th of March 2024, we had a valid convention that was held in Nnewi and that convention is still valid and subsisting for four years. I want to say that the court today didn’t look at that before arriving at the conclusion,” he said.

Mr Abure said the Umuahia meeting where the caretaker committee was elected was against the party’s constitution.

“I must also say clearly that the Umuahia meeting which produced the Caretaker Committee was also against the Labour Party constitution. It is only the National Chairman and National Secretary of a Political Party who has the power to convene any NEC meeting of any of sort.

“I want to say very clearly that we are going to appeal that decision. Today’s decision of the Appeal Court is not acceptable to us and we reject it in its entirety. We have put our legal team together and we are going to file an appeal and move to the Supreme Court,” he stated.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/873761-lp-crisis-court-of-appeal-dismisses-abures-suit-affirms-nenadi-usman-as-chair.html?tztc=1

Previous Thread:
Labour Party: Court orders INEC to recognise Usman-led EXCO, sacks Julius Abure

The news does not carry any weight because Peter Obi is no longer in Labour Party. Abure has been used and dumped.

I continued to re-echo since 2024 that it is the NEC's decision to make. Abure is gone!

Penguin2 over to you!

seunmsg:
I thought you would have argued that Appeal court shouldn't have heard the case now. They should have said it is an internal affair of the party and the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the case. Once the Supreme Court rules on the ADC case, don't come back here and start abusing the Justices o. Let's try to always stick to the same position on every issue. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

Oga, read the case first before passing an opinion.
Abure raised the preliminary objection that Courts should not interfere with leadership issues but the Court supported Usman that Abure's tenure had ended. The Court held that the fact that his tenure has ended, and there was vacuum in the Party, it was already filled.

Since Peter Obi left the party, Abure's financiers are no longer interested.
The attention is on ADC now no longer Labour party.

By the way, where is Lamido APapa?

It's painful for someone to be used to cause confusion and disorder, only to be dumped after the deal has been done.

Well, that happens to those who allow themselves to be used as willing tools to cause chaos.

The courts should reduce as much as possible interference with political parties affairs.
The courts also needs to start sending these politicians to jail.
They get away with so many misdeeds. The courts should go beyond making pronouncement but add jail term, and all this going to court will reduce if not stop.

If not for APC interference in the judiciary all this nonsense will not be happening.
The supreme court should give Abure a heavy fine and if he cannot pay he should be sent to prison.

This is victory for Obi's faction. At least, the backdoor is always open for him if ADC f-cks him up. Or has Obi resigned from LP?

Julius Abure has used his greed to destabilize Labour Party. Labour Party would have been in the news as a strong contender for 2027 elections.

Anything peter Hoebi touches gets destroyed. ADC is next to collapse

See this used tampon.
He should go and lick his wounds.
Such a backward fellow.
His leadership of the party is already decided by the Supreme Court.

Abure is a very selfish guy, he should go and rest.
After APC used him to destabilise the party, what does he stand to gain??

Abure abi wetin should just move to APC and stop wasting his resources.

Abure will continue to loose court cases when Mr Peter Obi is not in the LP. But immediately Mr Peter Obi enters the LP, it becomes the case between the the Tinubu led federal government and Mr Peter Obi. Mr Peter Obi remains the greatest nightmare of the Tinubu led APC federal government.
And mark my words, this case can never be decided until it is too late for Obi to operate from the LP.

etokhana:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/873761-lp-crisis-court-of-appeal-dismisses-abures-suit-affirms-nenadi-usman-as-chair.html?tztc=1

Previous Thread:
Labour Party: Court orders INEC to recognise Usman-led EXCO, sacks Julius Abure

So nobody is blaming Tinubu for this crisis in LP ? I thought every party with crisis is caused by him ?

LegalWolf:
This is victory for Obi's faction. At least, the backdoor is always open for him if ADC f-cks him up. Or has Obi resigned from LP?

Obi still has his LP membership card intact.

*fingers crossed*

Macphenson:
Since Peter Obi left the party, Abure's financiers are no longer interested.
The attention is on ADC now no longer Labour party.

By the way, where is Lamido APapa?

If Obi is there or LP still formidable, the judges will never give a direct judgement like this, they would have given a confusing and ambiguous judgement, in which, Abure and other party will be laying claim to victory. Because Wike and other unseen hands would have been the one that would be writing judgement, but now, they left judges to deliver unambiguous judgment.

Noblechykk:
The news does not carry any weight because Peter Obi is no longer in Labour Party. Abure has been used and dumped.

Your heavy weight Lord and Saviour should have reconciled the factions.

Abure you allow yourself to used now they have dumped you like tissue paper.

Supreme court go ask Abure to use him hand tear the case file in their presence.
That judgement go sweet die.

Abure how much did Tinubu pay you for this

Pastor Esther Nenadi-Usman has finally won in the court.


Pastor Esther Nenadi-Usman, though a pastor in Redemption Army Ministry, Kaduna is married to a Muslim man hence the name Usman attached to her name as she was originally Esther Nenadi which was her southern Kaduna Christian and Tribal names.


Attached are pictures of Pastor Esther Nenadi-Usman preaching on the pulpit in redeem church.


https://www.nairaland.com/2291538/sanator-nenadi-usman-truns-pastorafter

https://whathappenedt..com/2014/10/im-pastor-married-to-muslim-leader.html

https://allafrica.com/stories/201410270095.html

Abure lost his nuisance value immediately Obi left LP. Nafiu Bala is the one cashing out now

He that the gods want to destroy them go first make am run mad, Abure is heading the same way Judas Iscariot went through,

Macphenson:
By the way, where is Lamido APapa?

He is laughing his ass off somewhere in Oyo state

Abure the sabo in labour party

Abure is critically mad.

What goes around comes around, the same you treated Lamidi Apapa is the same way you're being treated, but you also don't want to leave power too.

What a pity.

This Abure of a guy should give it up already. Does he want to be the perpetual chairman of the party? Seems he wants to die with labour party matters abi what do we call this desperation? Was he born the labour party chairman? I don't understand this.

Atiku should better step down, Obi has an option but it is not in our interest for the opposition to be divided again

, Abure is heading the same way Judas Iscariot went through,

Dreal1247:
Abure will continue to loose court cases when Mr Peter Obi is not in the LP. But immediately Mr Peter Obi enters the LP, it becomes the case between the the Tinubu led federal government and Mr Peter Obi. Mr Peter Obi remains the greatest nightmare of the Tinubu led APC federal government.
And mark my words, this case can never be decided until it is too late for Obi to operate from the LP.

Obi was in LP when supreme Court ruled against abure, obi left because of his greed ahd lack of leadership skills .
Otti stayed back and has seen the crisis to a reasonable conclusion there is no way back for abure , if obi decides to come back to Lp , otti and co must not give him any ticket .

We need to stop rewarding prostitute politicians with offices .