ABUJA – Differing interpretations emerged Friday following a Supreme Court ruling on the disputed Labour Party leadership. Factions within the party each claimed the judgment vindicated their position regarding who rightfully leads the organization after the apex court addressed internal party matters.
The court’s decision centered on the ongoing conflict over the Labour Party leadership. Both the faction supporting Julius Abure and the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee (LPNCC) assert the Supreme Court ruling favors their claims.
Abure Faction: Ruling Affirms Current Leadership
The group led by Julius Abure declared the Supreme Court decision confirms Abure as the legitimate national chairman. Obiora Ifoh, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, emphasized the court identified party leadership selection as an internal affair, unsuitable for judicial intervention.
Ifoh stated the court indicated lower courts erred in ruling on the Labour Party leadership structure. He maintains the Supreme Court ruling implicitly upholds prior court judgments that recognized Abure’s chairmanship and the validity of the National Working Committee elected during the March 27, 2024 convention.
“Barrister Julius Abure remains Labour Party national chairman,” Ifoh asserted. He highlighted the party constitution’s procedures for calling conventions and noted INEC recognizes the leadership produced by that process. Ifoh called on members to accept the ruling and use internal mechanisms for dispute resolution.
Caretaker Committee: Ruling Boosts Democracy
Conversely, Senator Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee (LPNCC) portrayed the verdict as a significant win for Nigerian democracy. He said the ruling confirms the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law.
Nwokocha believes the judgment strengthens Nigeria’s democratic foundations. He sees the supreme court ruling as a chance to unify the party and advance democratic principles.
“This ruling affirms that the rule of law will always be upheld,” Nwokocha commented. “We now have an opportunity…to strengthen our party.” The LPNCC urged Nigerians to collaborate with the Labour Party to promote justice and equity.
