- Senator Nenadi Usman announced the Labour Party Caretaker Committee’s decision to appeal a court ruling affirming Julius Abure’s leadership of the party
- Usman urged party members to remain calm and focused on reconciliation despite the court’s decision, confirming Abure’s position
Senator Nenadi Usman, Chairperson of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee (CTC), has announced the committee’s decision to appeal the recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that upheld Julius Abure’s leadership of the Labour Party.
In a statement on Wednesday, Usman said that she had met with key party figures, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and CTC Secretary Senator Darlington Nwokocha, to discuss the court’s decision.
She acknowledged that while the ruling preceded the formation of the caretaker committee, they had resolved to challenge it.
“This evening, we deliberated on the judgment. After being briefed, the Caretaker Committee resolved to appeal. I urge all party members to remain calm and maintain peace as we continue our reconciliation efforts,” Usman said.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, confirmed Abure’s leadership and recognised the March 2024 Nnewi Convention, which solidified his position as the Labour Party’s national leader.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to acknowledge Abure as the legitimate chairman, overturning INEC’s earlier stance that questioned the legality of his leadership.
INEC had argued that the party’s national convention in Anambra State violated the Constitution and Electoral Act, claiming the Labour Party did not meet the legal requirements for the convention and that Abure’s tenure was due to end in June 2024.
In September, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti led a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, at which Senator Nenadi Usman was appointed chair of a 29-member caretaker committee to address the party’s internal crisis.
However, the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) rejected this meeting as illegitimate.
Following the court’s ruling, Peter Obi called for unity within the party and urged members not to be distracted by internal conflicts.
In a tweet, Obi stressed the need to focus on the critical issues affecting Nigerians, stating, “We must not allow this to divert us from addressing the pressing issues affecting our people today,” reiterating the party’s mission to build a better Nigeria.