ABUJA, Nigeria — Opposition leaders of the Labour Party (LP) led a significant march to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, calling for the official recognition of Nenadi Usman as the party’s National Chairman.
The protest was led by Peter Obi, LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State.
The leaders were received by Sam Olumekun, a National Commissioner at INEC.
The demonstration follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling last week that invalidated the decision of the Court of Appeal which had recognised Julius Abure as LP’s National Chairman.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, concluded that the Court of Appeal had overstepped its jurisdiction in declaring Abure as the National Chairman of LP.
The apex court found that the matter was an internal party issue and thus outside the remit of the court.
The court granted the appeal filed by Senator Esther Usman, marking a significant victory for the faction led by Nenadi Usman.
Reading from the Certified True Copy of the judgment, Otti stated, “Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both higher court and the court below recognise Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent and hereby set aside and suit number FXC is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction.”
Otti also emphasized that the Labour Party must adhere to its constitution, urging that officers should leave office upon the expiration of their tenure, as stipulated in the party’s rules.
The judgment dismissed Abure’s faction and emphasized the importance of following internal party processes to prevent further legal disputes.
“If the constitution of a political party has prescribed duration for tenure of office of an officer such as this one, such officer should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of the tenure,” Otti added.
