BREAKING: Court of Appeal affirms Nenadi Usman as Labour Party leader, slams Abure with ₦10m cost

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal filed by Barrister Julius Abure challenging the leadership structure of the Labour Party.

A three-member panel of Justices held that the appeal lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process.

The case, marked CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 — Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors, arose from a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 21 January 2026 by Justice Peter Lifu, which upheld earlier judicial pronouncements relating to the party’s leadership.

Justice Lifu had reaffirmed a Supreme Court decision which invalidated the convention that produced Abure as National Chairman and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Abure approached the Court of Appeal seeking to set aside the judgment.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring, upheld the decision of the lower court, affirming that the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership dispute on 4 April 2025.

The appellate court agreed that the Federal High Court possessed the jurisdiction under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel INEC to perform its statutory duties, including recognition of Senator Nenadi Usman as Labour Party leader.

The court further upheld the validity of the caretaker arrangement headed by Usman, describing it as a “doctrine of necessity” required to fill the leadership vacuum within the party.

The Justices also strongly criticised Abure for what they described as abuse of court process and forum shopping, citing his repeated attempts to relitigate issues already determined by the Supreme Court, including filings in a Nasarawa State High Court.

The court held that the appeal was frivolous and constituted a waste of judicial time.

Consequently, the Court dismissed the appeal and imposed a cost of ₦10 million against Barrister Abure.

Reacting to the judgment, Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, described the ruling as a victory for democracy, rule of law, and judicial independence.

She commended the judiciary for what she called its courage and consistency in upholding justice, while also appreciating party members nationwide for their patience and loyalty during the dispute.

Senator Usman urged stakeholders to remain focused ahead of the party’s forthcoming congresses and national convention, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

The Labour Party also expressed appreciation to the media for what it described as objective reporting throughout the legal process.