The Supreme Court on Friday removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, delivering a decisive verdict in the party’s leadership tussle.
In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel of the apex court overturned an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had recognised Abure as the party’s leader.
The justices ruled that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to make such a pronouncement, stressing that issues surrounding party leadership are internal matters that fall outside the purview of the judiciary.
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The court upheld the appeal filed by Senator Esther Usman and another party member, describing it as meritorious. In its ruling, the court also noted that Abure’s tenure as chairman had expired, effectively invalidating any claim to continued leadership.
As a result, the Supreme Court dismissed a cross-appeal filed by the Abure-led faction of the Labour Party.
