Peter Obi and Governor Otti’s Caretaker Committee Reject Appeal Court Ruling Reinstating Julius Abure as Leader
The Labour Party’s leadership crisis escalated on Saturday following the Court of Appeal’s decision to validate Julius Abure’s position as the party’s national chairman. This ruling, delivered less than 24 hours earlier, upheld the legitimacy of the party’s March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Despite the court’s decision, a 29-member caretaker committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, has challenged Abure’s leadership. In a statement issued in Abuja, the committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, insisted they remain in charge, citing a mandate given to them by party stakeholders during an emergency convention.
The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Hamma Barka, ruled on two appeals, emphasizing that the Labour Party’s leadership matters were not justiciable. It declared actions taken outside its jurisdiction as null and void, striking down an earlier Federal High Court ruling delivered on October 8, 2024. The court determined that the Federal High Court had overstepped its authority by ruling on the party’s leadership dispute and failed to give the caretaker committee a fair hearing.
In a statement co-signed by Senator Usman and the committee’s National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, the group criticized the appellate court’s judgement and reaffirmed their leadership mandate. They argued that the Federal High Court had acted outside its jurisdiction and violated their right to fair hearing by disregarding their counter-affidavit.
The statement reiterated that the caretaker committee was formed on September 4, 2024, to oversee the party’s affairs and has been effectively carrying out its responsibilities. The committee urged the public to recognize their leadership and dismissed Abure’s claim to the position.
