ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Court of Appeal has affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party, dismissing an appeal filed by Julius Abure and imposing a N10 million fine on him for abuse of court process.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, the appellate court upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which recognised Usman as the party’s authentic leader.
The court also reinforced the position that the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Abure as national chairman.
According to the appellate court, that decision left no room for further litigation on the matter.
The panel agreed with the lower court that Section 251 of the Constitution empowers it to compel a federal agency like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perform its statutory duties, thereby validating the directive ordering the commission to recognise Usman.
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It further upheld the establishment of the Caretaker Committee led by Usman, describing it as a “doctrine of necessity” in response to the leadership vacuum within the party.
The justices were particularly critical of Abure’s actions, accusing him of forum shopping by approaching a Nasarawa State High Court on an issue already decided by the Supreme Court, and continuing to lay claim to the party’s leadership despite clear judicial pronouncements.
Describing the appeal as lacking merit and constituting an abuse of court process, the court awarded N10 million in costs against Abure for wasting judicial time.
Reacting to the judgment, Usman described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, commending the judiciary for its firmness in upholding justice.
She praised the courts for resisting what she termed attempts by certain elements to undermine judicial integrity, adding that the decision would help stabilise the party going forward.