The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party, affirming Nenadi Usman as the legitimate head of the party’s caretaker committee.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which recognised a 29-member caretaker committee led by Usman.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices Abba Mohammed and Eberechi Nyesom-Wike concurring, held that the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership dispute by nullifying the convention that returned Abure as national chairman.
The court relied on a prior Supreme Court ruling which determined that Abure’s tenure had expired and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Usman’s leadership.
It further ruled that the lower court acted within its constitutional powers by ordering INEC to recognise the caretaker committee, noting that the decision was necessary to fill a leadership vacuum within the party. The appellate court rejected Abure’s claims that he was denied a fair hearing, describing the appeal as lacking merit and an abuse of court process.
It also accused him of “forum shopping,” citing his move to seek relief at the Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court. “On the whole, I agree with the decision and conclusion of the trial court as the same, being in accordance with the Constitution,” Justice Oyewumi said. The court added that the trial court reached a reasonable conclusion that could not be faulted.
The appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026, was dismissed, with the court awarding costs of N10 million against Abure for wasting judicial time on an issue it said had already been conclusively determined. The court also affirmed that Usman had the legal standing to file the case and that the lower court had jurisdiction to hear it, dismissing all objections raised by Abure.
