The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by Julius Abure challenging his removal as national chairman of the Labour Party, affirming an earlier Federal High Court ruling that recognised Nenadi Usman as the party’s legitimate leader.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices — Oyejoju Oyewumi, A. B. Mohammed, and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike — the appellate court held that the leadership dispute had already been conclusively settled by the Supreme Court.
The court ruled that the apex court’s April 4, 2025 decision nullifying the convention that produced Abure as chairman remained binding, and upheld the authority of the Federal High Court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Usman as the party’s leader.
It further affirmed that the constitution of the Labour Party’s caretaker committee under Usman was justified under the doctrine of necessity to fill a leadership vacuum.
The justices criticised Abure for abuse of court process, accusing him of forum shopping and pursuing parallel litigation on an issue already determined by the Supreme Court. The court described the appeal as lacking merit and constituting a misuse of judicial processes.
Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and Abure was ordered to pay a fine of N10 million for wasting judicial time.
Reacting to the judgment, Usman described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, commending the judiciary for upholding justice. She also thanked party members and supporters for their patience and urged stakeholders to focus on upcoming party congresses and the national convention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Abure rejected the verdict, describing it as contrary to established legal principles, and announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
