LP Crisis: Appeal Court throws out Julius Abure’s suit, affirms Nenadi Usman’s leadership

The Court of Appeal, which was hearing the case in Abuja, has rejected an appeal that was brought to it by Barrister Julius Abure in the unfolding leadership tussle at the Labour Party.

The appeal was ruled on by a bench of three judges, who ruled unanimously that the appeal be struck out.

This is one of many cases involving the leadership wrangle in the Labour Party.

It should be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had on January 21, 2026, upheld an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court, which sacked Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Unhappy with the aforementioned ruling, Barr. Abure filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 – Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors.

Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justice A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring, gave the lead judgment upholding the ruling of the lower court in his ruling.

In his ruling, the Court of Appeal stated that the matter had been finally determined in the Labour Party’s internal dispute by the Supreme Court in April 4, 2025, when it struck down the convention that reinstated Barr. Abure as the National Chairman of the party.

In its ruling, the appellate court concurred with the trial court that the lower court had jurisdiction to make a mandatory order against a statutory Federal Government agency, such as it did when it compelled INEC to recognize Senator Nenadi Usman as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

It is equally pertinent to point out that the appellate court also agreed with the trial court that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party under the leadership of Usman, was a doctrine of necessity which was required to fill the alleged vacuum in leadership of the Labour Party.

In a scathing attack, the judges accused Barr. Abure of abuse of court process and forum shopping by seeking determination of the case at a Nasarawa State High Court despite the fact that the same issue had already been determined by the apex court and also for his insistence on claiming leadership of the party even though the decision of the apex court on the matter could not have been any clearer.

The court further went ahead to hold that the appeal had no merit and was an abuse of court process.

In light of the above, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Barr. Abure and slapped him with a cost of ten million naira.

In his reaction to the judgement, the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, termed it as a great victory for democracy and the rule of law.

Usman further thanked party loyalists and members nationwide for their patience, dedication, and loyalty throughout this period of uncertainty.

She emphasized that all concerned should keep their focus on the congresses and national convention scheduled by the party.

The party also appreciated the conduct of members of the media in their reporting and asked Nigerians to continue placing their faith in the party as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.