The Supreme Court has removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, putting an end to the long-standing leadership tussle within the party.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgment that overruled the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, which had upheld Julius Abure as the Labour Party chairman. According to the apex court, the appeal court acted outside its jurisdiction by deciding on a matter that relates strictly to internal party leadership.
The Supreme Court clarified that disputes involving the leadership of a political party are internal issues, and as such, the judiciary lacks the authority to interfere. This ruling effectively nullifies all earlier legal recognition of Abure’s leadership position within the party.
The case that led to this decision was filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and another appellant, both of whom challenged the legality of Abure’s continued stay as chairman. After reviewing the facts and the arguments presented, the Supreme Court declared the appeal as meritorious and therefore allowed it.
Additionally, the court dismissed a counter-appeal brought by the Abure faction, describing it as lacking in merit. This further solidified the apex court’s position that the matter of who leads a political party lies within the party’s internal mechanisms and not the courts.
Earlier in January, the Court of Appeal in Abuja had ruled that Julius Abure remained the valid chairman of the Labour Party. The three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka, stated that its November 13, 2024, ruling, which recognized Abure, still stood and had not been overturned by any court at the time.
However, the Supreme Court on Friday overruled that position, stating categorically that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to make such a pronouncement in the first place. The apex court emphasized that since the core of the dispute centered on who should lead the Labour Party, it was not something for the judiciary to determine.
Julius Abure
According to the Supreme Court, anything done outside the court’s jurisdiction is considered a nullity. It reiterated that the leadership structure of a political party is an internal matter and not justiciable, meaning it is not subject to court determination.
It also pointed out that the judgment earlier delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024, which had supported Abure’s leadership, was invalid because it was also given without proper jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court made an important observation that Julius Abure’s tenure as chairman had already expired, based on the available records presented during the legal proceedings.
This latest judgment brings to an end a months-long leadership crisis in the Labour Party, which had caused internal confusion and divided loyalties among party members and supporters. The party is now expected to reorganize and put in place a new leadership structure in line with its constitution.
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Julius Abure had been a central figure in the Labour Party, especially during the 2023 general elections.
