By Danjuma Amodu| January 21, 2026
The Federal High Court in Abuja has recognised the Usman Nenadi‑led Executive of the Labour Party (LP) and removed Julius Abure as its national chairman.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu relied on the Supreme Court’s 4 April 2025 ruling to declare Senator Nenadi Usman the party’s legitimate leader. Subsequently, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Usman‑led caretaker committee as the sole authority to represent the LP pending a national convention.
The suit, filed by Senator Usman, named Abure and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as defendants. Justice Lifu found that Abure’s tenure had expired and dismissed his argument that the dispute was an internal, non‑justiciable party matter, stating that the caretaker committee was a necessary response to the Supreme Court’s order.
On 9 January, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) formally acknowledged Usman as national chairman, reaffirming the Supreme Court’s decision. The NWC added that all party congresses and the national convention will be held in strict accordance with the party’s constitution and urged members at every level to participate fully.
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since early 2025, with competing claims to the chairmanship. The Supreme Court’s April 2025 judgment clarified that Abure’s term had lapsed, prompting calls for a caretaker arrangement.
Today’s ruling provides a legal basis for that arrangement and for INEC’s official recognition, paving the way for orderly party restructuring ahead of upcoming elections.
