The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on Tuesday rejected a judgment of the Court of Appeal, describing it as unacceptable and vowing to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, Abure dismissed the appellate court’s ruling, which affirmed the leadership of Nenadi Usman, insisting that the decision contradicted established legal principles and the party’s internal procedures.
He maintained that leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters that should not be subject to judicial intervention, arguing that the court’s judgment failed to align with existing legal precedents.
“We have seen what transpired today at the Appeal Court and we want to say very clearly that the judgment is not acceptable to all of us in the Labour Party led by my humble self,” Abure said.
The factional chairman also rejected claims that the tenure of the current party executive had expired, describing such assertions as inaccurate and unacceptable.
According to him, the party’s convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, produced a valid leadership with a four-year mandate, which he said the court did not adequately consider in its ruling.
Abure further criticised the Umuahia meeting that led to the emergence of a caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional and contrary to party rules.
“It is only the National Chairman and Secretary of a political party who have the power to convene any NEC meeting of any sort,” he stated.
Reaffirming his stance, Abure said the party had assembled its legal team and would immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court.
“Today’s decision of the Appeal Court is not acceptable to us and we reject it in its entirety. We are going to appeal that decision,” he added.
