‘His Tenure Has Elapsed’: Court Sacks Abure, Installs Nenadi Usman as Labour Party Leader

ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially removed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), declaring his continued stay in office illegal.

In a landmark judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognize the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only valid leadership authority for the party.

The ruling brings a decisive judicial end to the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked the opposition party since the 2023 general elections.

“A Necessity, Not Meddling”

Delivering the verdict, Justice Lifu dismissed Abure’s preliminary objection that the leadership dispute was an “internal party affair” beyond the court’s jurisdiction.

The judge held that the intervention was a “necessity” arising from the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court judgment, which had previously nullified Abure’s claims to the chairmanship. Justice Lifu ruled that the evidence before the court proved beyond doubt that Abure’s tenure had long elapsed.

“The court finds that the tenure of the defendant has expired,” Justice Lifu declared. “Consequently, the setting up of the Caretaker Committee to fill the vacuum and conduct a valid convention is a necessary legal step to save the party from extinction.”

INEC Ordered to Comply

The court issued a mandatory injunction directing INEC to accord full recognition to Senator Nenadi Usman and her 29-member committee. This empowers the committee to:

• Run the daily affairs of the party.
• Conduct ward, local government, and state congresses.
• Organize an elective National Convention to produce a substantive National Working Committee (NWC).

Background to the Sack

The judgment follows a suit filed by Senator Usman (marked THC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025), challenging Abure’s refusal to vacate office despite the expiration of his tenure.

The crisis peaked in September 2024 when the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), backed by key stakeholders including Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, dissolved the Abure-led NWC during a meeting in Umuahia. They subsequently appointed Usman, a former Finance Minister, to head the transitional body—a move Abure had fiercely resisted until today’s ruling.

New Dawn for LP?

Party faithfuls at the court premises erupted in jubilation following the judgment.

“This is the liberation we have been praying for,” said a supporter at the venue. “The party can now focus on rebuilding its structures without the distraction of a leader who refuses to leave.”

As of press time, Julius Abure has not issued an official response to the judgment.