Court sacks Julius Abure as Labour Party chairman, orders INEC to recognise Nenadi Usman-led executive

The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the party’s lawful leadership.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Wednesday, affirming that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired and upholding the validity of the caretaker committee. The ruling aligns with a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025).

The judgment followed a suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, filed by Senator Nenadi Usman. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was also named as a defendant in the case.

Justice Lifu ruled that evidence before the court proved that Abure’s term had ended, dismissing his argument that the matter was an internal party issue and therefore non-justiciable. The court held that the establishment of the caretaker committee was necessary following the Supreme Court order.

The decision comes after the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) removed Abure amid a leadership crisis within the party. The NEC subsequently formed a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Finance Minister Senator Nenadi Usman, to fill the leadership vacuum.