The protracted leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) deepened today as the Federal High Court in Abuja formally removed Barrister Julius Abure from his position as National Chairman of the party.
His removal comes 24 hours after Senator Samuel Anyanwu suffered a loss in his long-running legal struggle to validate his status as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered Wednesday, relied on an earlier Supreme Court ruling (April 2025) that held Abure’s affirmation by the Court of Appeal was invalid, concluding that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had long elapsed.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only legitimate leadership of the party pending a national convention.
Abure’s leadership has been disputed for over two years following internal party dysfunction and competing factions, with rival camps contesting the legitimacy of his election and tenure.
The Supreme Court in April 2025 voided the Court of Appeal’s judgment that had earlier validated Abure’s chairmanship, stating that courts lack jurisdiction in political party internal affairs once processes exist within the party’s constitution.
Before today’s ruling, Abure maintained his claim to the chairmanship, but repeated legal setbacks and internal party resolutions had steadily weakened his position.
The court’s decision marks a major shift in LP’s leadership dynamics, potentially paving the way for renewed unity under the caretaker committee ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, party loyalists around Abure may challenge the ruling, even as the legal basis for his claim has been significantly eroded.
Another Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed Anyanwu’s suit, after his own lawyer informed the court that Anyanwu’s tenure in the position expired in December 2025, rendering the case moot.
Recall that Anyanwu had vacated the national secretary position to contest the 2023 Imo State governorship election, which he lost, and later sought to reclaim his former role.
Earlier rulings by both a High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu had already sacked him from office and affirmed Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the authentic National Secretary — decisions linked to constitutional interpretations of tenure and eligibility.
Anyanwu’s attempt to challenge and enforce his claim through fresh litigation failed to succeed, especially after the expiry of his tenure framed the issue as no longer justiciable.
The dismissal — in effect a recognition of the end of his formal claim — represents a significant political setback for Anyanwu and underscores ongoing factional tensions within the PDP. Party leaders will now likely rally behind the recognised national secretary to resolve lingering organisational disputes ahead of nationwide contests.
These twin developments in PDP and LP come at a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s opposition parties as they gear up for the 2027 elections:
The Labour Party’s leadership collapse under Abure could either create space for reconciliation under Nenadi Usman or deepen intra-party divisions if rival factions resist the court-mandated leadership.
The PDP’s internal rifts over the national secretary position highlight ongoing struggles for unity and clear authority, which could affect organisation, fundraising, and electoral coordination.
Political watchers note that effective leadership consolidation will be crucial if either party hopes to present a credible challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections
