Labour party lauds Appeal Court ruling on power to litigate in party’s name

By Jude Opara

The Sen. Nenadi Usman led Labour Party (LP) has expressed delight over the recent ruling of the Appeal Court which said only her leadership the sole right to litigate in the name of the party.

National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the party, Ken Asogwa in a statement on Monday said the ruling is a further judicial affirmation that Sen. Usman is the authentic leader of the Labour Party.

“The Labour Party has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division, delivered on 2nd July 2026 in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Ors. v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Ors., describing it as a further judicial affirmation of the settled legal position regarding the authority to institute or maintain legal proceedings in the name of the Party.

“The appeal arose from a pre-election matter following the decision of the Federal High Court. Upon discovering that an appeal had been filed in the name of the Labour Party without the knowledge, approval or authorisation of the Party’s recognised National Leadership under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, the National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, Esq., promptly briefed Mr. C. Okoroafor through a formal letter of instruction dated 22nd June 2026 to represent the Party and take all necessary legal steps to withdraw the appeal.

“When the matter came up before the Court of Appeal, two separate counsel announced appearances on behalf of the Labour Party. Faced with the conflicting claims of representation, the Court directed both counsel to produce documentary evidence establishing their authority to act for the Party.

“While Mrs. A. Oteh, who had initially filed the appeal, relied on a letter issued by Mr. C. K. Igara, who described himself as the South-East Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. C. Okoroafor presented a formal letter of authority issued by the National Legal Adviser on behalf of the recognised National Leadership of the Party.

“After examining the documents placed before it, the Court accepted the authority issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as the valid authorisation on behalf of the Labour Party. Consequently, Mrs. Oteh withdrew both her appearance for the Party and the counter-affidavit earlier filed in opposition to the application seeking the withdrawal of the appeal. The Court thereafter dismissed the appeal and awarded costs of ₦100,000 against counsel acting on the purported authority of Mr. C. K. Igara”.

According to Asogwa, the ruling has once again reinforced the established legal principle that only the duly recognised National Leadership of the Party, acting through its authorised officers, possesses the legal competence to engage counsel and to commence, defend or sustain legal proceedings in the name of the Labour Party.

The Labour Party vowed to continue to challenge every attempt by unauthorised persons, including the former National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure to claim to claim to be representing the party.

“The Party remains resolute in its commitment to the rule of law, constitutional order, internal party discipline, respect for judicial pronouncements, and the protection of its corporate identity and institutional integrity”, the statement concluded.