By Jude Opara, Abuja
The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) may certainly linger as the Caretaker Committee on Wednesday set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the allegations of corruption and anti party activities levelled against the embattled factional Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Sen. Nenadi Usman told a World Press Conference that the party decided to put the record straight concerning the issue of Abure whom she said has continued to impersonate the National Chairman of the party, despite being removed from office by the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Usman said it was proper to intimate Nigerians on the true state of affairs in the Labour Party and to lay bare the facts, the law, and the resolute actions they are taking to reposition the party in line with the values of transparency, accountability, discipline and internal democracy.
She gave thumbs up to the Supreme Court for the landmark judgement that sacked Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
“While we commend the Nigerian Judiciary and celebrate the recent Supreme Court Judgement that sacked Mr. Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Party and honour the dedication of our members nationwide, we must also confront with courage and clarity Mr Abure and his co-travellers’ divisive actions and familiar manipulative antics that threaten the integrity, public image and unity of our party.
“After a careful and comprehensive review of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025, the National Executive Council (NEC) is deeply concerned by the subsequent actions of Barr. Julius Abure, particularly his continued impersonation of the esteemed office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party. These actions have not only violated the spirit and letter of the law but have also brought the image and integrity of our great party into disrepute.
“In the exercise of its constitutional mandate and in strict accordance with the disciplinary provisions of the Labour Party Constitution 2019 (As Amended), the NEC, in session, hereby announces the commencement of disciplinary actions against Mr. Abure. These actions have started with the constitution of a special investigative committee to review the actions of Mr. Abure as it affects the image and integrity of the party.
“In line with due process and the party constitution, NEC gives Mr. Abure 48 hours notice to show why disciplinary actions would not be taken against him for his numerous acts of misconduct against the party. The formal notice of disciplinary actions will be sent to the last known address of Barr. Julius Abure”.
Sen. Usman further gave a detailed analysis of the litigations that culminated in the removal of Abure by the apex court of the land.
“The apex court of the land has clearly and finally nullified his claim to leadership, and his tenure has long expired by the passage of time. His continuing acts of reckless denigration of party leadership and open war against the party will attract severe sanctions.
“For the avoidance of doubt and benefit of some well-meaning Nigerians who may still be deceived by Mr. Abure’s endless media theatricals, may I chronicle the facts on the Labour Party leadership tussle that has now been laid to rest by the Supreme Court Judgment of April 4, 2025.
“On June 9, 2023: Barr. Julius Abure was allowed to lead the LP NWC for a transitional one-year period post-2023 elections based on mediation and conciliation, with the clear mandate to conduct congresses from ward to national levels.
“March 2024: Instead of following due process, Abure convened a National Convention without ward, LGA, or state congresses without INEC supervision contrary to the provisions of the Section 223 of the 999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), the Labour Party Constitution and INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
“June 8, 2024: INEC formally communicated to Mr Abure that his tenure had expired. INEC excluded Abure from national party chairmen meetings twice, recognising and emphasising that his tenure had lapsed.
“During the 2024 Ondo Governorship Election, INEC rejected LP agent lists submitted under Abure. Abure sued INEC to compel recognition—a legal battle he lost.
“The Federal High Court erroneously ruled in Abure’s favour, prompting a misleading INEC portal entry: “Barr. Julius Abure (by court order).”
“On September 4, 2024, Labour Party stakeholders, including elected officials and statutory NEC members, met in Umuahia, Abia State, and constituted a 29-member National Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman (Chairman) and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha (Secretary).
“The LP NCC applied to join the suit, and after appealing the erroneous Federal High Court decision, the Court of Appeal upheld Abure’s claim in November 2024.
The LP NCC, led by my humble self, appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court on April 4, 2025, delivered a final and binding judgment:
It upheld the appeal by Sen. Nenadi Usman’s Caretaker Committee;
It dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal;
It set aside the decisions of the lower courts recognising Abure;
It warned that party leaders should humbly vacate office at the end of their tenure;
“Honourable Justice John Inyang Okoro specifically declared: “The decisions of the trial court and the court below, recognising Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent (LP), are hereby set aside.”’
Usman also said that the Caretaker Committee has passed a vote of confidence on the Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia state for their examplery leadership and unwavering loyalty to the vision of the party.
Also reacting to a question on why the Caretaker Committee is yet to take over the National Secretariat of the party, the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Sen.
Darlington Nwokocha said; “We are law abiding, we don’t want to bring rascallity into the issue. We expect him to be a gentleman to obey the ruling of the judiciary. Thank God he claims to be a lawyer, which means he should know the position of the law and respect it”
Nwokocha also explained that he knows that INEC must pass a process before implementing the decision of the Supreme Court.
“We have done our bit by informing them of the Court judgement and we hope they will do the right thing after carefully studying the situation”.
Sen. Nenadi Usman further cleared the air on her membership status saying that she is from Jere Ward in Kagaruku Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state.
