By Anthony Ochela, Abuja
Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, declared Julius Abure as the substantive National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, affirmed the Abure-led leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi Convention that produced the national leadership of the LP.
Justice Nwite ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding INEC’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid.
Earlier, INEC had argued that the LP’s national convention, which was conducted, violated the Constitution and Electoral Act, and that the party failed to meet legal requirements for holding the convention.
The electoral empire had said that Abure was no longer the national chairman of the party, stating that Abure’s tenure expired in June 2024.
Sequel to this, some stakeholders of the party led by Gov Alex Otti and the party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate,Mr Peter Obi, in order to save the party according to Gov Otti summoned a stakeholders meeting in Umuahia which birth the Interim or Caretaker Committee headed by Mrs Nenadi Usman , which brought unwarranted attacks on the persons of Abure, Obi and Otti. Many held the Caretaker Committee moves to save face owing to INEC’s decision and threat to delist Labour party from list of existing parties in the country.
Meanwhile, the embattled Chairman which was yesterday affirmed as the authentic LP chairman, Barr Julius Abure has called on party stakeholders to abide by the decisions of the court as law abiding citizens to join him in moving the party forward. Also the Legal Adviser of the party Mr Edun has called on party stakeholders to join hands with Abure now that the court has settled the matter. He made the call on Arise TV programme yesterday and advised the Caretaker Committee to collapse and comeback to the party executive as being together will guarantee the party success in 2027 and Ondo election.
