Nigeria’s Supreme Court has set aside the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which had earlier affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Delivering the judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s internal leadership dispute.
Court Declares Labour Party’s Leadership Crisis an Internal Affair
According to the Supreme Court justices, issues surrounding a party’s leadership remain strictly internal affairs, which courts should not adjudicate.
With this decision, Abure’s claim to the national chairmanship of the Labour Party has been nullified, deepening the party’s leadership crisis.
Background of the Case
Earlier in January, the Court of Appeal had ruled that Abure remained the Labour Party’s National Chairman, emphasizing that political party leadership disputes should not be subject to judicial intervention.
That ruling overturned a previous decision by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, which had invalidated Abure’s leadership.
However, with the Supreme Court’s latest verdict, the appellate court’s judgment has been overridden, reinforcing the position that internal party disputes cannot be settled in court.
Labour Party in Turmoil as Leadership Battle Continues
The Supreme Court’s decision has further plunged the Labour Party into uncertainty, as the battle for control of its leadership intensifies.
With Abure’s position now voided, the party faces a fresh wave of internal struggles, raising questions about its stability ahead of future elections.
