Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The leadership crisis within Nigeria's Labour Party has taken another dramatic turn following a landmark judgment by the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, which affirmed that only the recognised national leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman possesses the legal authority to authorise litigation or legal representation on behalf of the party. The ruling, delivered on July 2, 2026, has further strengthened Senator Usman's position as the lawful national leader of the Labour Party, while dealing a significant blow to the faction led by embattled former National Chairman Julius Abure. In a swift reaction, the Abure faction immediately rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Supreme Court, setting the stage for yet another round of legal battle over the soul of the opposition party.
The judgment was delivered in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Others v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Others, a pre-election dispute that originated from proceedings at the Federal High Court. According to a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, July 6, 2026, by the Labour Party's National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the appeal arose after the party discovered that a case had been filed in its name without the knowledge, approval, or authorisation of its recognised national leadership. The National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, subsequently issued a formal letter dated June 22, 2026, instructing Mr. C. Okoroafor to represent the party and take all necessary steps to withdraw the unauthorised appeal.
When the matter came up before the appellate court, two separate counsel announced appearances on behalf of the Labour Party. Faced with conflicting claims of representation, the court demanded documentary evidence establishing the authority to act for the party. Mrs. A. Oteh, who had initially filed the appeal, relied on a letter issued by Mr. Ceekay Igara, who claimed to be the party's South-East Vice Chairman. However, Mr. Okoroafor presented a formal authorisation letter issued by the National Legal Adviser on behalf of the recognised national leadership led by Senator Nenadi Usman. After reviewing the documents, the Court of Appeal accepted the authority issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as the only valid mandate. Consequently, Mrs. Oteh withdrew her appearance and the counter-affidavit she had filed, and the court subsequently dismissed the appeal, awarding costs of ₦100,000 against the counsel who had acted on the purported authority of Mr. Igara.
In a statement, the Labour Party hailed the judgment as a significant legal victory and a fresh judicial endorsement of Senator Usman's leadership. "The party considers this decision significant, as it once again reinforces 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," Asogwa stated. He added that the judgment reaffirmed the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman as the only authentic and valid leadership of the party. The party vowed to continue challenging what it described as attempts by unauthorised persons, including Barr. Julius Abure and Mr. Ceekay Igara, to hold themselves out as representatives of the party or to initiate legal proceedings without lawful authority.
The latest ruling is the most recent in a series of judicial pronouncements that have consistently favoured the Usman-led caretaker committee since the Supreme Court's landmark decision of April 4, 2025, which nullified the convention that had returned Julius Abure as National Chairman. On January 21, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the legitimacy of the 29-member caretaker committee led by Usman, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise her as the party's legitimate leader. The Court of Appeal in Abuja subsequently dismissed Abure's appeal against that ruling on April 21, 2026, affirming Usman's leadership and imposing a cost of N10 million against Abure for what the court described as an abuse of process.
However, the Abure faction has remained defiant. Reacting to the Owerri judgment in a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the Julius Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, said the group was dissatisfied with the verdict but would challenge it at the Supreme Court. "The decision of the Appeal Court was unpleasant to us, but as law-abiding Nigerians, we have taken note. We are heading to the Supreme Court immediately to overturn that judgment," Ifoh stated. He expressed optimism that the apex court would rule in favour of the Abure-led leadership, arguing that party leadership remained an internal affair beyond the scope of judicial interference. Abure has consistently maintained that the March 27, 2024, convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, produced a valid leadership that should run for a four-year term, and that the court failed to properly consider this in reaching its conclusion.
The protracted leadership crisis has deeply polarised the Labour Party, with both factions claiming legitimacy and control over the party's structures and candidates. The conflict has also created confusion among party members and supporters, particularly as the 2027 general elections draw closer. The Independent National Electoral Commission has formally recognised the Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the authentic leadership of the party, acting on the directive of the Federal High Court. The commission's move followed weeks of intense internal wrangling, parallel leadership claims, and protracted court battles that have dogged the party since the 2023 general elections. As part of the changes, INEC updated its records, replacing Abure's name with that of Usman as Acting National Chairman on its official platform.
Senator Usman, a former Minister of Finance, has described the series of court rulings as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and judicial integrity. She said the judgments bring clarity and stability after a prolonged internal dispute, commending the judiciary for standing firm despite attempts to undermine due process. Usman has also urged party members to remain united as the party prepares for its congresses and national convention ahead of the 2027 elections, emphasising that the focus now is on strengthening internal democracy and rebuilding confidence in the party. Despite the legal setbacks, the Abure faction has vowed to exhaust all legal avenues to reclaim the party leadership, insisting that the courts have consistently held that the issue of leadership of a political party is an internal affair.
As the legal battle moves to the Supreme Court, the future of the Labour Party remains uncertain. The apex court's decision, whenever it comes, is expected to finally resolve the leadership crisis and determine which faction will lead the party into the 2027 elections. For now, the Owerri Appeal Court judgment has reinforced the legal principle that only the recognised national leadership of a political party can authorise litigation in its name, a ruling that significantly strengthens Senator Nenadi Usman's position and deals another blow to Julius Abure's hopes of reclaiming the party's leadership. The coming months will be critical as the Abure faction prepares its appeal, and the Labour Party's fate hangs in the balance, awaiting the final word from Nigeria's highest court.
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