Court directs INEC to accept Nenadi Usman as LP caretaker leader
A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party and instructed INEC to recognise the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman. The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, said Abure's tenure had ended and the Usman-led committee is now the valid authority for the party. The ruling was based on the Supreme Court’s previous position regarding the party’s leadership crisis. The National Executive Committee had earlier resolved to replace Abure at a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Peter Obi and hosted by Alex Otti.
What we know
- A Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Julius Abure as Labour Party National Chairman and ordered INEC to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee.
- Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the Usman-led committee is the only valid authority for the Labour Party, citing the Supreme Court’s stance.
- The National Executive Committee had previously removed Abure at a meeting chaired by Peter Obi and hosted by Alex Otti.
- Following the removal, a 29-member caretaker committee was formed with Usman as chairperson.
- The Supreme Court upheld the appeal filed by Usman, who was appointed caretaker chairperson in September 2024, and set aside the Court of Appeal’s judgment in April 2025.
