Julius Abure,
Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, has expressed his approval of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to remove Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Speaking to journalists in Benin on Saturday night, Imasuen, an LP senator, described the ongoing turmoil within the party after the 2023 general election as unfortunate.
He stated that the party had become a personal matter for Abure, which led to unnecessary conflict.
Imasuen emphasized that Abure’s legal battles had only caused more division, and with the Supreme Court’s ruling, the party could now find peace.
“I sincerely welcome the Supreme Court judgment that sacked Barrister Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party,” Imasuen said.
“A lot has gone on in the Labour Party after the 2023 general election, and it is very unfortunate. Abure, who was the chairman at the time, in my opinion, really didn’t have the party at heart because it had become a personal thing.”
Imasuen continued, “Abure’s actions had torn the party apart instead of preserving it. “It became something that didn’t really matter to them, and it was like, let’s fight and tear the party into pieces instead of preserving it. That sort of thing was not what I expected from someone who led the party at a time. He has been dragging the party in and out of court, and now that the Supreme Court has finally sealed it, so be it. It’s a welcome development.”
The senator acknowledged that, despite the ruling, the party’s future remains uncertain.
“But the question for me and for all of us now is, where do we go from here? Someone spoke with me on the matter, and I said, I just hope that it’s not a little too late of what has just come up because the Labour Party is almost decimated. Most of the members have gone. Will this judgment bring them back? I don’t know. Will it energize those who are there now? Again, I don’t know. So, when it’s time, we’ll talk.”
When asked whether he would defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or remain in the Labour Party to seek re-election, Imasuen responded, “Why do you say APC? It’s a good question, but whatever decision or direction I take, you’ll be the first one.”
DAILY GAZETTE recall that the Supreme Court had, on Friday, removed Abure as the LP National Chairman, setting aside a decision from the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had previously recognized him as the party’s leader.
The five-member panel of the Supreme Court ruled that the appellate court lacked jurisdiction to make such a declaration, as matters related to party leadership are considered internal affairs outside the judiciary’s domain.
