Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the Nenadi-led caretaker committee as the valid leadership of the Labour Party.
While delivering judgment in the suit filed by Nenadi Usman against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the judge relied on the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on April 4th which declared her the valid leader of the party.
Justice Lifu ordered INEC to recognize the Nenadi-led caretaker committee as the valid leadership of the party, pending when a National convention held.
Consequently, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to forthwith recognise the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as “the only valid authority to represent the Labour Party,” pending when the party convenes a national convention.
Justice Lifu held that evidence before him established that Abure’s tenure as the national chairman of the LP had since elapsed.
While dismissing Abure’s contention that the matter was an internal affair of a political party, which is non-justiciable, the court held that the setting up of the LP Caretaker Committee was “a necessity” that arose from the Supreme Court’s order.
It will be recalled that following a leadership crisis that rocked the LP, the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party resolved to remove Abure as the National Chairman.
To fill the leadership vacuum, the party constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, with the former Finance Minister, Usman, as Chairman.
The decision was the outcome of an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the party that was hosted in Umuahia by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
The meeting at which Abure was sacked from office was chaired by his former ally and the party’s 2023 presidential election candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Abure approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to validate his position as the National Chairman of the party.