JUST IN: Setback for Obi, Alex Otti as Court Affirms Julius Abure as Labour Party’s Authentic National Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld Julius Abure as the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party, dealing a setback to former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the verdict on Tuesday, affirming the leadership of Abure and validating the party’s March 2024 national convention in Nnewi, which re-elected him as chairman. The court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Abure’s leadership.

This ruling comes in the wake of accusations from the Abure faction that Obi and Otti had betrayed the party. Tensions escalated when INEC announced that it did not acknowledge Abure as the National Chairman, leading to the Labour Party filing a suit challenging this decision.

In a counter-affidavit, INEC contended that the leadership of the Labour Party, including Abure, was invalid, citing violations of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act during the March convention. The electoral body maintained that it only engages with parties that have recognized leadership and urged the court to dismiss the Labour Party’s lawsuit, stating, “The Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking.”

The court’s decision follows a series of internal conflicts within the Labour Party, including a previous order from the Federal Capital Territory High Court that barred Abure and other national officers from acting as party leaders. This internal strife had been exacerbated by the suspension of Abure by the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party.

The Abure faction, through its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, criticized those advocating for Abure’s removal, claiming many lacked the financial resources to secure nomination forms for the 2023 elections.