The Labour Party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, has shrugged off the threat by the party’s caretaker committee to appeal the recent court judgment affirming his leadership.
According to Abure’s camp, the committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, lacks the legal standing to challenge the court’s decision.
Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, argued that the caretaker committee is unknown to the party’s constitution and the electoral law, and therefore cannot appeal the judgment ¹. “It would be unfortunate if they toe that line because you can’t appeal a judgment that you are not a party to,” Ifoh stated.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had declared the national convention that returned Abure and his National Working Committee to office as valid, and compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Abure as the LP National Chairman. The court ruled that the Nnewi convention held in March was constitutional and in line with the country’s laws.
In response to the judgment, Abure expressed readiness for reconciliation and appealed to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to help pacify aggrieved members. However, the caretaker committee, backed by Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has vowed to appeal the judgment.
Ifoh emphasized that the Abure-led National Working Committee is not losing sleep over the appeal threat, as neither Obi nor the committee was a party to the case. “The body was not part of the suit. The suit was between the Labour Party and the INEC. So you cannot appeal what you are not involved in,” he said.
As the crisis within the Labour Party deepens, it remains to be seen how the appeal will play out. One thing is certain, however: the leadership tussle will continue to shape the party’s future.
