By Suleiman Abubakar MAPSA
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has delivered a decisive judgment in the case of Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & Anor vs. Labour Party & Anor (Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024), overturning a prior decision by the Federal High Court and clarifying the Labour Party’s leadership situation.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Esther Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, who represent the Labour Party’s National Caretaker Committee. The appellate court struck out the original suit brought by Barrister Julius Abure, citing lack of jurisdiction and procedural errors by the Federal High Court.
Key Rulings by the Court of Appeal
- The Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the leadership dispute.
- The Federal High Court acted in error by adjudicating the matter.
- The appellants’ right to fair hearing was violated as their counter-affidavit was not considered.
As a result, the Court of Appeal declared the Federal High Court’s judgment null and void, reaffirming the position that internal political party matters are non-justiciable.
Clarification on Leadership Claims
The National Caretaker Committee refuted an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal in a separate case (Labour Party vs. Olusola Ebiseni & Ors, Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024) which purportedly recognized Julius Abure as the Labour Party’s National Chairman. They emphasized that the judgment pertained only to the nomination of a governorship candidate in Ondo State and had no bearing on the party’s leadership structure.
Statement from the National Caretaker Committee
Senator Nenadi Esther Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha reaffirmed their leadership, urging members and stakeholders to support the National Caretaker Committee.
“We remain committed to serving the party’s interests diligently and effectively,” they stated.
The Labour Party’s National Caretaker Committee was constituted on September 4, 2024, and continues to oversee party operations amid ongoing challenges.
