Court of Appeal dismisses Abure’s appeal, affirms Nenadi Usman as Labour Party leader

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party.

The ruling affirms the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, which recognised Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had, on January 21, upheld the Supreme Court’s earlier decision that removed Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Usman as leader of the party.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, Abure approached the appellate court seeking to overturn the lower court’s judgment.

However, delivering the lead judgment, Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi held that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the decision of the trial court.

The appellate court ruled that the Supreme Court had already conclusively settled the Labour Party leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Abure as National Chairman.

The court also agreed that the Federal High Court acted within its constitutional powers under Section 251 of the Constitution when it compelled INEC to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s leader.

On the issue of party administration, the justices held that the caretaker committee headed by Usman was a doctrine of necessity required to provide leadership at a time when the party faced a vacuum.

The panel criticised Abure for abuse of court process, accusing him of forum shopping by approaching a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court.

It also faulted his continued claim to the leadership position despite what it described as a clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court.

The Court of Appeal consequently dismissed the case and awarded a cost of N10 million against Abure for wasting judicial time on a matter already determined.

Reacting to the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

She praised the judiciary for its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice despite attempts by certain elements to undermine its integrity.