Labour Party rejects court ruling, disputes legitimacy of former executives

Abuja, Nigeria – The Labour Party (LP) has expressed strong opposition to a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which recognised Julius Abure and his associates as members and executives of the party.

In a press statement released today, the current LP leadership, under the Acting National Chairman Prince Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi and Acting National Secretary Comrade Tasir Abass Bayis, described the judgment as “per incuriam” — a term indicating that the court acted in error or ignorance of relevant law.

The LP leadership asserts that Abure and his associates are not members of the Labour Party as a political party nor authorised to act as its executives. The current executives regard the ruling as another instance of “window shopping” for favourable judgments, drawing parallels to past election disputes involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau and Zamfara states.

Quoting Supreme Court precedents, the LP leadership argued that decisions made “per incuriam” are legally voidable. According to the statement, this latest judgment is part of an alleged effort to destabilise the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general elections, potentially leading to a repeat of electoral disruptions that affected other major political parties.

Party Constitution and Ongoing Legal Battles

The LP emphasised that it operates under a constitution ratified in 2014, which remains the party’s official guiding document and has not been amended. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the statement claims, has officially recognised this 2014 constitution on its website since 2019. However, the LP alleges that Abure and his associates have been using a “strange document,” referred to as the 2019 Constitution, which has no legal standing within the party.

The party has an ongoing lawsuit against INEC, filed in January 2024, seeking clarity on the recognised leadership of the party. According to the LP, this legal action is essential to ensure that only the legally appointed executives can act on behalf of the party.

Leadership Claims and Call for Clarity

The current executives contend that the term of Abure and the former leadership ended on June 10, 2023, and any attempt to extend their tenure violated section 223 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. Consequently, they argue that any documents signed by Abure after this date are invalid, and any meeting, congress, or convention led by the former executives holds no legitimacy.

The LP’s statement reiterates its commitment to uphold its 2014 Constitution, which it describes as the foundation of the party’s organisational structure. Moving forward, the party insists that only the Awamaridi-led leadership has the authority to represent LP’s interests at any level.

As the legal contest continues, observers are watching closely to see how these internal disputes may impact the Labour Party’s preparation for the upcoming 2027 elections.