The ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party has taken another dramatic turn, with the party’s 29-member Caretaker Committee, appointed by top party figures including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, rejecting the Appeal Court ruling that reinstated Julius Abure as national chairman.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the committee, which is led by Senator Nenadi Usman, affirmed that it remains in control of the party’s operations, following the mandate given to it by stakeholders at an emergency convention held in September 2024.
The statement comes in the wake of a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which on Friday affirmed Abure’s position as the Labour Party’s national chairman. The decision, delivered by a three-member panel headed by Justice Hamma Barka, followed two separate appeals regarding a dispute over the party’s leadership.
Justice Barka’s ruling was based on an earlier judgment delivered on November 13, 2024, in the case between the Labour Party and Chief Olusola Ebiseni, along with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Court of Appeal deemed that the leadership issues within the party were not justiciable, meaning they were beyond the scope of legal adjudication. The court went further to declare that any actions taken outside its jurisdiction were null and void, effectively invalidating an earlier Federal High Court decision which had been in favour of Abure’s leadership.
Despite this, the Caretaker Committee, appointed on September 4, 2024, has refused to yield. “We stand firm in our position as the duly recognised leaders of the Labour Party,” said Senator Nenadi Usman, the chairman of the committee. “Our mandate, given to us by the party’s stakeholders, is clear and remains unchallenged. We will not allow Julius Abure to present himself as the national chairman of our party.”
The court ruling, which came just a day before the Caretaker Committee’s statement, has added fuel to the fire of an already fractured Labour Party, with its leadership embroiled in a public dispute that has left many party members confused and divided.
According to the Caretaker Committee’s press release, the panel’s actions were motivated by what they describe as the “erroneous” ruling of the Federal High Court, delivered on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite. “The Federal High Court erred in entertaining a leadership dispute that, in our view, fell outside its jurisdiction,” the statement continued. “Moreover, the court violated our right to a fair hearing by ignoring our counter-affidavit, which opposed the suit filed by Julius Abure.”
The committee made it clear that the dispute surrounding Abure’s leadership has been ongoing since before the controversial September 2024 convention, where they were elected. It was at this convention that the Caretaker Committee was formed, signaling a clear shift in the party’s structure, and ultimately, a rejection of Abure’s leadership.
At the center of the controversy is the question of legitimacy: While Abure’s camp points to the Court of Appeal’s ruling as a confirmation of his legal standing, Usman’s committee insists that their leadership was democratically chosen by party stakeholders. The split is not only a matter of legalities but also political maneuvering, as the party gears up for its next national convention and the 2027 elections.
The Labour Party’s internal turmoil is now drawing widespread attention, as it continues to play out in the public arena. In the statement issued by the Caretaker Committee, Usman called on party members to disregard any claims made by Abure and to rally behind the leadership structure they represent. “We urge our members to remain united and resolute in their support for the caretaker committee, which has consistently worked to uphold the values of our party,” Usman emphasized.
Despite the legal backing Abure now holds, it remains to be seen how the party will navigate this rift. The divided leadership could have far-reaching implications for the party’s political strategy and its ability to present a united front in the run-up to the 2027 elections. The absence of clear unity within the party could potentially harm its reputation, especially considering its prominence in the 2023 presidential race, where Peter Obi garnered significant support.
It is also worth noting that the Labour Party’s leadership issue is not just a local concern but has broader implications for Nigerian politics, as the party has become a key player in the nation’s political landscape, particularly following Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential race.
The Caretaker Committee, however, remains defiant. “We are committed to ensuring the party’s continued growth and to maintaining the trust of our supporters,” Usman declared.
The leadership crisis is now expected to escalate further, with the legal wrangling likely to continue in the courts, and potentially on the streets, as party members clash over the future direction of the Labour Party.
In the meantime, the Labour Party’s fate hangs in the balance. The next few weeks could be crucial in determining who ultimately emerges as the legitimate leader of the party, with both Abure’s faction and the Caretaker Committee prepared for a long and difficult battle.
