Appelate Court Affirms Senator Nenadi Usman as Labour Party Leader and Dismisses Julius Abure Suit

The Court of Appeal dismisses Julius Abure's suit, confirming Senator Nenadi Usman as Labour Party leader and imposing a 10 million naira fine for judicial abuse.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 10:21 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

The Final Judicial Seal on Labour Party Leadership

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a decisive blow to the leadership ambitions of Barrister Julius Abure by dismissing his suit against the recognition of Senator Nenadi Usman. In a unanimous judgment, a three member panel of Justices led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi affirmed that the earlier decision of the Federal High Court remained valid. This ruling effectively cements Usman’s position at the helm of the party and brings an end to the protracted legal battle that has shadowed the internal administration of the political organization.

Upholding the Authority of the Supreme Court

The appellate court anchored its decision on the finality of a Supreme Court ruling from April 4, 2025, which nullified the convention that originally returned Abure as National Chairman. According to the panel, the leadership dispute was already conclusively settled by the apex court long before this latest appeal. By attempting to overturn the recognition of the caretaker committee, the court found that the appellants were challenging a settled matter of law that left no room for further contestation regarding the validity of the previous leadership structure.

Constitutional Powers and the Role of INEC

Justice Oyewumi and the concurring justices, A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, agreed that the Federal High Court acted within its constitutional mandate under Section 251. This section empowers the court to compel statutory federal agencies, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, to perform their legal duties. By ordering the electoral umpire to recognize Senator Nenadi Usman to the exclusion of all others, the judiciary ensured that the administrative functions of the state were aligned with the legal realities established by the courts.