KEY POINTS

• The Federal High Court removes Julius Abure as Labour Party chairman, recognising Nenadi Usman’s caretaker committee as legitimate.

• The 29-member Usman-led committee was formed to manage party affairs pending a national convention.

• Earlier court rulings supporting Abure were overturned by the Supreme Court, emphasizing strict adherence to party constitutions and expired-tenure rules.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially removed Julius Abure from his position as national chairman of the Labour Party (LP). This is based on a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the party’s caretaker leadership.

Justice Peter Lifu told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday that Nenadi Usman, the party’s former minister of finance, is the legitimate leader until a national convention elects new officers.

Caretaker committee formed to stabilise party leadership

Usman filed a lawsuit against Abure, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), INEC, and others, and the court ruled in favor of Usman. The judge said that a caretaker committee was needed because the Supreme Court said so, based on evidence presented in court that Abure’s term had ended.

Governor Alex Otti and Peter Obi, the party’s candidate for president in 2023, hosted a meeting of expanded party stakeholders in Umuahia, Abia State, where the 29-member caretaker committee was formed. Usman is in charge of the committee. The committee was set up to handle party business and make sure things kept going before the internal elections.

Abure had fought against his removal, saying he was still the legal national chairman. He pointed to NEC meetings in Benin City, Edo State (March 29, 2021), and Asaba, Delta State (April 18, 2023), as well as a national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State (March 27, 2024), where he said he was elected and given new leadership roles.

The Supreme Court overturned earlier decisions by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that had supported Abure’s position in April 2025. The highest court told political parties to strictly follow their own rules and make sure that officers whose terms are up leave their jobs right away.