The Labour Party has clarified that the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday did not sack Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman, contrary to media speculations.
In a statement posted on the party’s social media, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, explained the party’s stance on the Supreme Court judgment.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that the Supreme Court had in its ruling on Friday, set aside a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
The five-member panel of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to declare Abure as National Chairman, stating that the matter concerned the internal leadership of the party.
The judgment further emphasized that the issue of leadership within a political party is a matter for the party itself and not for the courts.
The apex court also noted that Abure’s tenure had expired.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and another party member, deeming their appeal to be meritorious.
It subsequently dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the LP for lack of merit.
In response to the ruling, Obiora Ifoh reiterated that while the court struck out the suit challenging Abure’s leadership, it also clarified that courts should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
“The Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi, Abure suits, says only political parties can determine who their leaders are. It also said that the courts shouldn’t dabble into the affairs of the political parties,” Ifoh said in the statement.
He further emphasized, “Dr Barr Julius Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
