The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declared Mr. Julius Abure as Labour Party’s substantive National Chairman.
In a judgment by Justice Emeka Nwite, the court affirmed the Abure-led leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi Convention that produced the party’s national leadership.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding INEC’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid.
INEC had argued that the conducted LP’s national convention violated the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Besides it said that the party failed to meet legal requirements for holding the convention.
Stating that Abure was no longer the party’s national chairman of the party, INEC had held that Abure’s tenure expired in June 2024.
But the court held otherwise.
In Justice Nwite’s words, “I am of the view that and so hold that the basis of these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
“The plaintiff has proved his case. I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure all the rights and privileges accorded a political party duly registered in Nigeria.”
