The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has affirmed that Julius Abure remains the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party, despite a recent court ruling to the contrary. In a statement signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, the Congress described the judgment as based on “unfounded, unproven and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious.”
According to reports, an Abuja court on Wednesday ordered that Abure be barred from acting as National Chairman. The injunction also suspended the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim; the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu, on grounds of alleged forgery. The following day, seven members of the party’s National Working Committee announced that the National Vice‑Chairman (South), Lamidi Bashir Apapa, would serve as acting chairman, replacing the suspended leader.
In a statement titled “ABURE IS OUR NATIONAL CHAIRMAN,” the NLC warned that the removal of the party’s top officials is intended to distract the Labour Party from its electoral objectives. The statement expressed alarm at Justice Hamza Muazu’s ex parte decision to suspend the quartet of officials pending a hearing on an interlocutory injunction. The ruling followed an ex parte motion filed by eight self‑described aggrieved party members, including the chairman of Abure’s ward.
The NLC further cautioned the courts against entertaining frivolous suits and “spurious prayers” from mercenary party members, arguing that such actions could compromise judicial integrity. It urged the judiciary to refrain from decisions that portray the courts as having “descended into the arena” or becoming “picketable.” The Congress maintains that there are no valid grounds—either in court or otherwise—for suspending the four officials, describing the move as orchestrated by mischievous forces. Consequently, the NLC insists that the quartet remains the legitimate executive of the Labour Party and calls on the honourable court to review its decision forthwith.
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