On Friday, April 4, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, overturning the Court of Appeal’s decision that had recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to declare Abure as the National Chairman. The court emphasized that matters concerning the leadership of a political party are internal affairs, which fall outside the jurisdiction of the courts. It also pointed out that Abure’s tenure had already expired.
The Supreme Court granted the appeal filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and another party, declaring their appeal valid and meritorious. In contrast, the court dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Abure’s faction of the LP, deeming it without merit.
This ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing leadership dispute within the Labour Party.
