The leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP) has further deepened as the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), headed by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, has approached a Federal High Court in Zamfara State seeking to restrain the National Chairman of the party, Mr Julius Abure, from parading himself as leader of the Labour Party.
Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, and other senior party officials belong to the faction led by the former minister, reports Nigerian Tribune.
This development comes weeks after the Supreme Court, in its judgement delivered on 4 July, declared that internal matters of political parties should be resolved through their internal mechanisms and not the judiciary.
Since the apex court’s ruling, both the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abure and the NCC under Usman’s control have clung to the reins of power within the Labour Party, with no successful efforts made to resolve the dispute.
Using their ally, Alhaji Sule Garba, the Otti/Usman camp, in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2025, filed an ex parte motion at the court in Gusau, seeking an order to restrain Abure and the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, from acting on behalf of the Labour Party in any capacity.
However, on May 15, 2025, Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, who presided over the Federal High Court, Gusau, declined to grant the order sought by the representatives of Otti and Usman, pending the determination of the matter.
The judge ruled that all the respondents — including Abure, Ibrahim, the LP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — must first be put on notice before proceedings could continue.
Consequently, the court ordered an expedited hearing of the suit and adjourned the matter to June 4, 2025.
In response to the latest twist, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, today in Abuja, expressed surprise over what he described as the “desperation” of the Otti/Usman faction to control the party.
Ifoh stated, “We are shocked to learn that some of our leaders are desperately shopping for court orders from every nook and cranny to ensure that crisis persists in the party and to stop INEC from recognising our leadership. In their desperate mood, they left Abuja and journeyed overnight all the way to Zamfara, yet the court refused their prayers.
“This is not the first time they have resorted to court order shopping. They went to Aba last year on a similar mission and were refused. I really do not understand the kind of stiff-necked leaders that are emerging in Nigeria today, where people see a mission that is practically impossible, yet they prefer to sink a ship in their desperation to catch a fish.
“It is regrettable that, up till now, some people are still busy chasing shadows while other serious political parties and their leaders are tilling the ground in anticipation of a bountiful harvest ahead of 2027. Why would someone wake up one morning and start fighting himself? This is no longer normal.
“I am sure you have read the Supreme Court judgement very well. Is there anywhere the Supreme Court said it has removed Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, or anywhere it ruled that Nenadi Usman has now become the new chairman? Even INEC has admitted that the stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia which enthroned Nenadi Usman was illegal.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to all our estranged members to allow reason to prevail and obey the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on the supremacy of the party.”
The Usman-led NCC has yet to release a statement on the latest development. The NCC recently set up a disciplinary panel to investigate Abure’s tenure. In a swift response, the Abure-led NWC immediately suspended Otti and several senior members of the Labour Party.
