RismadarVoice Reporters
January 22, 2026
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday removed Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, pending the party’s national convention.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, Justice Peter Lifu held that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired and that the Usman-led caretaker committee remains the only valid authority to act for and represent the party.
The ruling relied on the Supreme Court’s earlier position on the party’s leadership crisis.
Justice Lifu dismissed Abure’s claim that the matter was an internal party issue, therefore non-justiciable, noting that the formation of the caretaker committee was necessitated by the apex court’s judgment.
INEC was consequently ordered to recognize the Nenadi Usman-led committee until a national convention is conducted.
The Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had previously resolved to remove Abure as chairman during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State.
The meeting, hosted by Governor Alex Otti, chaired by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, with Usman appointed as chairperson.
Abure subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking validation of his continued stay in office.
However, the court held against him, citing the Supreme Court’s April 2025 ruling that set aside the Court of Appeal judgment which had recognized Abure as National Chairman.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, had unanimously determined that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the party’s leadership dispute and upheld the appeal filed by Usman, who had been appointed caretaker chairperson in September 2024 alongside 28 others.
The ruling effectively affirms Usman’s authority over the Labour Party, pending the conduct of its national convention.
