Labour Party Chairman Julius Abure’s Legitimacy Affirmed, but Obi-led Committee Vows to Appeal
In a surprise twist, the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has announced its intention to appeal the recent Federal High Court judgment affirming Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman. The decision comes just hours after the court declared the contentious national convention that returned Abure and his National Working Committee to office valid.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, also compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the legitimacy and privileges of the party leadership. The court ruled that the Nnewi convention held in March was constitutional and in line with the laid-down laws of the country.
Abure had been at loggerheads with bigwigs and stakeholders of the party, who opposed his reelection due to the controversial nature of the Nnewi convention. However, in the aftermath of the judgment, Abure expressed his willingness to reconcile with the aggrieved party members, appealing to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, to help pacify the situation.
Obi, alongside Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other party stakeholders, had set up the 29-man caretaker committee in July, tasked with conducting an expanded election to birth new executives at the ward, local government, state, and national levels. The committee, headed by Usman, a former minister, had met with Obi to deliberate on the judgment before deciding to appeal.
In a terse statement released in Abuja on Tuesday night, Usman urged party members to remain calm and maintain peace as the committee continues its reconciliation efforts. She emphasized that the decision to appeal was taken after a thorough briefing and consultation with Obi and other committee members.
The development comes as a surprise, considering the caretaker committee was established to address the issues surrounding Abure’s tenure. However, it appears that the committee has opted to challenge the court’s decision, potentially prolonging the crisis within the Labour Party.
As the party navigates this new twist, it remains to be seen how the reconciliation efforts will unfold and whether Abure’s legitimacy will be sustained. One thing is certain, however: the Labour Party’s internal wrangles will continue to captivate attention and raise concerns about the party’s capacity to present a united front ahead of the 2023 elections.
