by Godwin Orozo-
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, bringing an end to a prolonged legal dispute over the party’s leadership.
Delivering the unanimous verdict, a five-member panel of justices ruled that the Court of Appeal had exceeded its jurisdiction in declaring Abure as the party’s leader.
“The leadership of a political party is fundamentally an internal affair,” the Supreme Court stated. “Courts should not interfere in matters that should be resolved within the party’s structures.”
The ruling follows an appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and another appellant, who contested Abure’s claim to the chairmanship. The Supreme Court found their arguments valid, overturning the earlier decision in Abure’s favor.
Reacting to the judgment, a spokesperson for the appellants said, “This decision reaffirms the principle that party affairs should be settled internally. We welcome the ruling as a step toward strengthening democratic processes within political parties.”
However, a Labour Party official who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concern over the implications of the verdict. “This ruling could set a precedent where party leadership is easily contested. We will review the decision and determine our next course of action,” the official said.
The judgment marks a turning point for the Labour Party, which has faced internal turmoil in recent months. With Abure’s removal, the party will now have to chart a new course in determining its leadership moving forward.
