Senator Nenadi Usman,
The National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has responded to a media statement issued by Barrister Julius Abure, clarifying that it misrepresented the Appeal Court judgment delivered on January 17, 2025, regarding the party’s leadership dispute.
Barrister Julius Abure, leader of the Labour Party National Working Committee (NWC), had issued a statement on January 17, 2025, claiming that the Appeal Court sitting before Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja had reaffirmed him as the Chairman of the Labour Party.
However, in a counter-statement jointly signed by Senator Nenadi Usman, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, and Senator Darlington Nwaokocha, the Secretary, the Labour Party Caretaker Committee clarified the situation, stating that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024; SEN. NENADI ESTHER USMAN & ANOR v. LABOUR PARTY & ANOR, ruled in favor of its appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, delivered on October 8, 2024.
The statement further explained that the Court of Appeal ruled that the leadership dispute brought before the Federal High Court by Barrister Julius Abure was outside its jurisdiction.
It also stated that the Federal High Court had erred by entertaining the case, as it lacked jurisdiction over the leadership dispute.
“The judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal upheld that the Court of Appeal affirmed that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, filed before the Federal High Court by Barr. Julius Abure, was a leadership dispute over which the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction.”
“It also explained that the Federal High Court erred and acted without jurisdiction by entertaining the leadership dispute brought before it by Barr. Julius Abure,” the statement continued.
“That the Federal High Court also violated its right to a fair hearing by failing to consider its Counter-Affidavit filed in opposition to the suit before it.”
The Caretaker Committee also highlighted that the Court of Appeal struck out the suit filed before the Federal High Court for lack of jurisdiction.
The committee addressed what it described as an “erroneous and unsolicited finding” by the Court of Appeal, referencing a judgment delivered on November 13, 2024, in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, which suggested that Julius Abure was “admitted as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
“This finding is completely inconsistent with the substantive judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal,” the statement emphasized.
“For clarity, the judgement delivered on 13th November 2024 in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 pertains to the nomination of a governorship candidate for the Ondo State Governorship Election. It has no connection whatsoever to the leadership dispute, which was the crux of the instant suit.”
The committee reaffirmed the legal principle in Nigeria that courts do not have jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties, including leadership matters.
“We commend the Court of Appeal for upholding the position that the leadership dispute in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024 is non-justiciable and outside the court’s jurisdiction,” the statement said.
The Caretaker Committee also reiterated that the Labour Party formed a National Caretaker Committee on September 4, 2024, appointing Senator Nenadi Esther Usman as Chairman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as Secretary.
Both have been carrying out their duties effectively, earning the approval of party stakeholders and members.
“As the duly recognised National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Secretary of the Labour Party, we, on behalf of ourselves and other members of the National Caretaker Committee, deem it necessary to issue this press release to clarify and set the records straight,” the statement concluded.
