The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday reaffirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in two separate appeals.
A three-member panel of the court, led by Hon. Justice Hamma A. Barka, delivered the judgment on Friday.
The appeals were brought before the court by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman against the Labour Party and others, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the Labour Party and others.
In the two separate appeals, the Court held that it would not delve into the issue of the Labour Party’s leadership, as such matters are not justiciable.
“As such, the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court on October 8, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite, was deemed ineffective, as it was delivered without jurisdiction, and therefore struck out by the Court,” Justice Barka stated.
Furthermore, Justice Barka stressed that the Appeal Court relied on its November 13, 2024, judgment, which held that Julius Abure remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
He directed all parties, including INEC and the general public, to respect the subsisting decision.
The Labour Party is one of the political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on October 8, 2024, affirming the Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party and ordering INEC to recognize and work with it.
This decision prompted some aggrieved parties to approach the Appeal Court for further redress.