The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) under Mr Julius Abure and its Caretaker Committee led by a former Minister of Finance, Mrs Nenadi Usman, reacted differently on Friday to the judgment of the Supreme Court, which declared that the power to decide the leadership of political parties remain with the parties and not a matter for judicial interference.

While the Usman CTC praised the judgment as “victorious”, the LP’s National Chairman, Abure, said the judgment further affirmed his leadership as the recognised and authentic one to pilot the affairs of the party.

A five-member panel of the apex court had on Friday overturned a previous decision by the Court of Appeal that recognised Abure as the party’s Chairman, declaring that it lacked the authority to make such a pronouncement.

Reacting after the supreme court reached the decision, Usman hailed it saying, “The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman, declaring it meritorious, while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.”

The former minister added, “The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centered governance.

“We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us.”

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Obiora Ifoh, in a statement in Abuja, pointed out that that Supreme Court did not sack Abure, but its judgment implied that the existing leadership under Abure remained the authentic one, having been put in place in line with the provisions of the constitution of the party.

He said the ruling effectively struck out Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Appeal Court and the Labour Party suit at the trial court.

He stated, “The court’s decision reaffirms the preceding and accumulated high courts and appeal court judgments that uphold the Labour Party’s structures to choose its leaders.

“Notably, the Appeal Court judgment in Labour Party vs Ebiseni and 2 others, delivered on November 13, 2024, had already affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

“The Supreme Court’s judgment did not sack Labour Party national chairman Barrister Julius Abure but rather upheld the immutability of the party’s structures to choose its leaders. The court insisted that the lower courts should have declined jurisdiction and not made pronouncements on the leadership of a political party.

“The Labour Party has welcomed the judgment, emphasising that it validates the party’s constitution and the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure. According to the party’s constitution, the National Working Committee led by Barrister Julius Abure is the recognised leadership of the party. Article 14 of the 2024 constitution as amended gives the National Secretary the power to issue notices of meetings of the national convention, national executive council, and the national working committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman.

“The National Convention of the party was called by the leadership of the party on March 27, 2024, where the leaders of the party emerged. The report of the National Convention is already with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the leadership is recognised by INEC.” (Nigerian Tribune)