Supreme Court Judgment Ends Abure’s Tenure; Prepare for Congresses, Says Anambra LP Chairman, Peter Okoye

By TONY OKAFOR, AWKA

The Chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Peter Okoye, has said that the Supreme Court judgment of April 4, 2025, has effectively ended Julius Abure’s tenure as the national chairman of the party.

Okoye added that the apex court’s verdict has recognized the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, which is backed by former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

Recall that the Supreme Court had, on Friday, April 4, 2025, removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had recognised Abure as the party’s national chairman.

The apex court in its decision, held that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to make such a declaration, given that the substance of the case concerned the internal leadership of the party.

The court emphasised that matters relating to party leadership are internal affairs, over which the judiciary has no jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court noted that the appeal filed by Senator Esther Usman and another was allowed, having been found to be meritorious.

The court also observed that, based on the submissions before it, Abure’s tenure had already expired. Consequently, it dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party.

Speaking during the party’s June meeting at its office in Awka, Okoye charged members to intensify efforts in rejuvenating the party in the state.

He emphasized that anyone still considering Abure as the national chairman is “daydreaming.”

Okoye assured that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would soon make a pronouncement on the matter after thoroughly studying the Supreme Court judgment that sacked Abure.

Okoye tasked members to rejuvenate the party across the 21 local government areas and 326 wards in preparation for the party’s congresses and convention anytime soon.

He maintained that the Labour Party would be the party to beat in any election if the right things are done.

The meeting was attended by LP members and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) political committees at the state and local government levels.

Former NLC State Chairmen in the state: Comrades Charles Onyeagba and Jerry Nnubia also spoke, strengthening Okoye’s standpoint.

They reminisced about how NLC registered LP to make the process of electing political leaders less cumbersome and regretted how infiltrators invaded the party and attempted to hijack it.