Appeal Court Dismisses Julius Abure's Suit, Affirms Usman as Labour Party Leader
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has delivered a unanimous judgment dismissing the appeal filed by Barrister Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party. In a decisive ruling, the three-member panel of Justices affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party, bringing further clarity to a protracted internal dispute.
Unanimous Decision by Appellate Court
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring, the appellate court upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court. The court referenced the Supreme Court's ruling on April 4, 2025, which had conclusively settled the leadership dispute by nullifying the convention that purportedly returned Barr. Abure as National Chairman.
The appellate court agreed with the trial court that it possessed the authority under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perform its statutory functions. This included the directive for INEC to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, to the exclusion of all other claimants.
Criticism of Abure's Legal Actions
The Justices strongly criticised Barr. Abure for abuse of court process and engaging in forum shopping at a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court. They noted his persistence in laying claim to the leadership of the party despite the clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court, describing such actions as wasteful and frivolous.
The court further held that the appeal was devoid of merit and constituted an abuse of court process. In a significant move, the court imposed a cost of ten million naira against Barr. Abure for wasting judicial time on a matter that had already been conclusively determined, emphasising the need for respect towards judicial decisions.
Background and Legal Proceedings
The case originated from Hon. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who reaffirmed the Supreme Court's judgment that removed Barr. Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. Dissatisfied with this decision, Barr. Abure approached the Court of Appeal in suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 – Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors – seeking to overturn the lower court's ruling.
The appellate court also agreed with the trial court that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, headed by Usman, was a doctrine of necessity needed to provide leadership in the party when there appeared to be a vacuum. This decision underscores the court's commitment to ensuring stability and lawful governance within political parties, particularly in the context of electoral processes and INEC's regulatory role.
