Labour Party: Appellate Court Dismisses Abure’s Appeal, Affirms Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker NEC

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The  Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has affirmed the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court which recognized the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, LP, as the authentic national leadership of the party.

The Source reports that  Honourable Justice Peter Lifu of Abuja Federal High Court had in January, 2027, ruled to affirm  the Supreme Court verdict of April 4, 2025 , sacking the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee NEC of the LP.

The apex court in the  judgment, while holding  that  issues bordering on the internal and leadership leadership issues of political parties are non-justiciable, also, declared the Nnewi National Convention that threw out Abure-led leadership as null and void.

The Supreme Court noted that the controversial Convention came long after the tenure of the Abure-led NEC had elapsed.

But dissatisfied with the trial Court’s  judgment, Abure approached the Appellate Court  seeking a reversal, and also an order mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise him as the duly elected National Chairman of the LP.

However, in a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the Appellate Court, comprising Justices Oyejoju Oyewumi ,A B Mohammed ,and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, April 21,2026, while affirming the trial Court’s earlier ruling, held that the apex court of the land had conclusively settled the leadership tussle in the LP with the nullification of the Nnewi Convention that purportedly threw up Barr Abure for a second term in office as the National Chairman.

The Appellate Court similarly agreed with the position of the trial Court in ordering the Electoral Commission to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led interim national leadership of the party.

Citing Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Court of Appeal panel, equally held that the Court is empowered to compel Government institutions, including INEC to  perform their statutory functions as was done by the trial court.

The Appellate court concurred with the trial Court, that the September 4, 2025, constitution of the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee  was in tandem with the “doctrine of necessity,” to avoid a leadership vacuum.

The panel berated both the Abure-led NEC ,and the Nasarawa state High Court over abuse of Court processes ,and engagment in forum- shopping on a matter that had earlier been conclusively settled by the highest court in the land.

The Panel  consequently dismissed Abure’s appeal ,and awarded N10 million against him.

Meanwhile, Senator Usman while reacting to the Court’s verdict, appreciated party faithful across the country for their patience, support and understanding.

This was as he described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law and democracy, commending the Judiciary for its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice ,in the face of deliberate attempts by some forces to undermine the integrity of the system.