Julius Abure, who has just been validated as the Labour Party's National Chairman by the Federal High Court in Abuja, has called on Peter Obi, the party's 2023 presidential candidate to join forces and unite the party, putting aside any internal conflicts.
Reacting to the court ruling, Abure said that the victory is not just his, but a victory for justice and democracy, stressing that it confirms that the rule of law prevails and that the party's leadership remains legitimate.
According to Abure, the court's decision is a significant milestone, marking a new dawn for the Labour Party.
The Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed Julius Abure's leadership as National Chairman of the Labour Party, with Justice Emeka Nwite ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to (INEC ) to acknowledge and validate Abure's position.
The Federal High Court has legitimized the Labour Party's national convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024, which resulted in Julius Abure's leadership.
Justice Nwite said, “I am of the view that, based on these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants’ attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
“The plaintiff has proved his case, and I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party, under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure, all the rights and privileges accorded to a political party duly registered in Nigeria.”
The plaintiff (Labour Party) in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission as the sole defendant.
The plaintiff has petitioned the court to determine whether they are entitled to receive the Notice of Refresher Training for uploading political party agents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal for the Ondo State Governorship Election, scheduled for November 16, 2024. Specifically, the plaintiff seeks clarification on their entitlement based on Sections 251(1)(r) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 43 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The plaintiff also petitioned the court to direct the defendant to grant the Labour Party, led by Abure, all rights and privileges due to a duly registered political party in Nigeria. Additionally, the plaintiff seeks an award of 5 million naira as costs for the legal action.
The Labour Party's internal conflict took a dramatic turn after INEC announced it wouldn't recognize Julius Abure as the party's National Chairman.
The Abure-led faction swiftly accused Peter Obi, the party's 2023 presidential candidate, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of betrayal .
INEC had contested the Labour Party's exclusion from the refresher training for uploading party agents for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections in its counter-affidavit.
The electoral commission argued that the party's leadership, including Julius Abure, was invalid due to violations of the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act.
INEC's legal team, led by Tanko Inuwa (SAN), argued that the Labour Party's lawsuit sought declaratory relief, which cannot be granted solely based on admissions. Instead, the party must provide substantial evidence to support its claims. In essence, INEC is saying that the Labour Party needs to do more than just make statements .
The commission also contested that the party’s leadership, including Abure, was invalid and that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC stated that it only recognized parties with legitimate leadership, and in this case, the Labour Party's leadership was called into question due to not meeting the legal requirements for holding its national convention .
This led INEC to argue that the party no longer had valid leadership, prompting them to urge the court to dismiss the Labour Party's suit.
In a related development, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, issued an order in April 2023 restraining Julius Abure, the National Chairman, and Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary, from presenting themselves as national leaders of the party.
Similarly, Clement Ojukwu, the National Organising Secretary, and Oluchi Opara, the Treasurer, were barred from parading themselves as executives of the party.
