KEY POINTS

• Abure faction insists Supreme Court ruling didn’t nullify his leadership, dismissing Usman-led NEC meeting as unconstitutional
• Party heavyweights including Peter Obi attended rival gathering, exposing deepening divisions in the opposition party
• Crisis threatens Labour Party’s stability ahead of 2027 elections as both factions claim legitimacy

The Julius Abure-led faction of Nigeria’s Labour Party has firmly rejected claims of a leadership vacuum following last week’s Supreme Court judgment on the party’s chairmanship dispute.

In a strongly-worded statement issued Wednesday, the faction dismissed a rival NEC meeting convened by former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

“There is nowhere it stated that the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure-led executive has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman has been directed to take over,” declared party spokesman Obiora Ifoh, referencing the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court ruling. The statement emphasized that the court had affirmed party supremacy in internal matters while making no pronouncement on leadership succession.

Obi, Otti attend rival meeting as Labour Party Unity hangs in balance

According to Channelstv, the crisis escalated when Usman’s faction held a well-attended NEC meeting at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, with 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, and Abia Governor Alex Otti present.

This gathering – viewed by the Abure camp as a “factionalization attempt” – reportedly discussed plans to reposition the party ahead of 2027 elections.

Legal experts note the Supreme Court only nullified a prior injunction recognizing Abure, without validating Usman’s caretaker committee. The ruling has exposed deep fractures within the opposition party that gained unprecedented national relevance during last year’s elections. Political analysts warn the infighting could undermine Labour Party’s momentum unless resolved through constitutional means.

The Abure faction maintains its March 2024 national convention remains valid, with officers’ tenures legally subsisting. They’ve threatened disciplinary action against members attending “unauthorized meetings,” citing Article 13(2a) of the party constitution which mandates adherence to established structures.