Obi-Backed LP Faction Ousts Abure, Announces National Congress

….Disciplinary proceedings initiated against factional chairman

By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja

The Labour Party’s National Executive Council backed by Peter Obi has announced decisive actions following the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 judgment that dismissed Julius Abure as National Chairman.

In a statement jointly signed and delivered by the acting leadership of Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, during a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the party revealed it has constituted a special investigative committee to review Abure’s actions and issued him a 48-hour ultimatum to show cause why disciplinary measures shouldn’t be taken against him for continued impersonation of the office.

The party said apex court has clearly and finally nullified his claim to leadership, warning that Abure’s reckless denigration of party leadership and open war against the party will attract severe sanctions.

The NEC nullified all state executive committee letters said to have illegally issued by Abure, affirming that only the National Caretaker Committee holds such authority.

In a significant show of unity, the party passed votes of confidence on Governor Alex Otti, Mr. Peter Obi, the NLC, TUC and all Labour Party legislators, while tendering “an unreserved apology” for Abure’s previous remarks.

The leadership outlined plans for nationwide membership registration and a series of congresses culminating in a National Convention, having already notified INEC of these impending activities.

Read full statement:

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THE LABOUR PARTY ON T HE STATE OF THE PARTY

Theme: LABOUR PARTY IS STANDING STRONG AND UNITED: READY TO EMANCIP ATE NIGERIA FROM APC FAILURE.

ABUJA, MAY 7, 2025

1. Your Excellences, Leaders, Ladies and gentlemen of the press, fellow Nigerians, an d esteemed global members of the Labour Party Nigeria. We bring you special greetin gs from the Labour Party the beacon and face of the “New Nigeria We Want”.
2. Let me start by commending you all, members and leaders of our great party, for y our tireless efforts in advancing democratic ideals and the vision of the limitless poss ibilities of a new Nigeria. Today, we address you on the true state of the Labour Party and to lay bare the facts, the law, and the resolute actions we are taking to reposition the party in line with the values of transparency, accountability, discipline and internal democracy.
3. In the course of our collective journey as a Party, we have encountered both progre ss and challenges. While we commend the Nigerian Judiciary and celebrate the recen t Supreme Judgement that sacked Mr Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the P arty and honour the dedication of our members nationwide, we must also confront wi th courage and clarity Mr Abure and his co-travellers’ divisive actions and familiar ma nipulative antics that threaten the integrity, public image and unity of our party. It is in this spirit of responsibility to safeguard our cherished democratic ideals of the Labou r Party and consequent upon Mr. Abure’s unabated misrepresentation and impersonat ion of the office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party that the NEC in session have reached a hard but necessary decision.
4. After a careful and comprehensive review of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025, the National Executive Council (NEC) is deeply concerned by t he subsequent actions of Barr. Julius Abure, particularly his continued impersonation of the esteemed office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party. These actions h ave not only violated the spirit and letter of the law but have also brought the image a nd integrity of our great party into disrepute. In the exercise of its constitutional mand ate and in strict accordance with the disciplinary provisions of the Labour Party Cons titution 2019 (As Amended), the NEC, in session, hereby announces the commenceme nt of disciplinary actions against Mr. Abure. These actions have started with the cons titution of a special investigative committee to review the actions of Mr. Abure as it af fects the image and integrity of the party. In line with due process and the party const itution, NEC gives Mr. Abure 48 hours notice to show why disciplinary actions would n ot be taken against him for his numerous acts of misconduct against the party. The f ormal notice of disciplinary actions will be sent to the last known address of Barr. Juli us Abure.
5. Mr. Abure is hereby warned to desist from parading himself as the National Chairm an of the Labour Party or impersonating the office in any form. The apex court of the land has clearly and finally nullified his claim to leadership, and his tenure has long expired by the passage of time. His continuing acts of reckless denigration of party lea dership and open war against the party will attract severe sanctions.
6. Rather than drag the image of the Party into further disrepute, Mr. Abure is advised to deploy his time and attention to addressing the serious allegations of corruption, f orgery, perjury, and criminal conspiracy pending against him.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON CRITICAL LABOUR PARTY STAKEHOLDERS

7. The NEC of the Labour Party has passed a resounding vote of confidence on His E xcellency, Govemor Alex Otti, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering loyalty to t he vision of the Labour Party. It is important to make clear that Mr. Abure and his expi red National Working Committee lack the legal or moral authority to speak about taki ng any disciplinary action against Dr. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, or any me mber of the Labour Party for that matter. We therefore urge Dr. Alex Otti, and indeed al I members of the Labour Party, to disregard Mr. Abure’s ignorance and orchestrated di sillusionment. Accordingly, on behalf of the leadership and members of the Labour P arty globally, we tender an unreserved apology to Mr Peter Obi and Governor Otti, for t he uncouth and irresponsible remarks previously made by the suspended former Chai rman, Bar. Abure.
8. Similarly, we extend total vote of confidence on Mr. Peter Obi, National Leader of th e Labour Party and the 2023 Presidential Candidate, the leadership of the Nigeria Lab our Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and all members of the Lab our Party Caucus in the National Assembly and various States Houses of Assembly. You have all stood for truth, integrity, and the values that define the Labour Party. We appreciate your commitment to the mission of saving Nigeria through a Labour Party govemment in 2027.
9. Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no doubt that the recent Supreme Court decision ha s answered all questions and cleared all doubts about the leadership of the Labour P arty. But for the avoidance of doubt and benefit of some well-meaning Nigerians who may still be deceived by Mr. Abure’s endless media theatricals, may I chronicle the fac ts on the Labour Party leadership tussle that has now been laid to rest by the Suprem e Court Judgment of April 4, 2025.

FACTSHEET: THE LEGITIMACY OF SEN. NENADI USMAN & SEN. DARLINGTON NW OKOCHA’S LEADERSHIP

1. On June 9, 2023: Barr. Julius Abure was allowed to lead the LP NWC for a tran sitional one-year period post-2023 elections based on mediation and conciliati on, with the clear mandate to conduct congresses from ward to national level S.
2. March 2024: Instead of following due process, Abure convened a National Con vention without ward, LGA, or state congresses without INEC supervision contr ary to the provisions of the Section 223 of the 999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), the Labour Party Constitution and INEC Regula tions and Guidelines for Political Parties.
3. June 8, 2024: INEC formally communicated to Mr Abure that his tenure had ex pired.
4. INEC excluded Abure from national party chairmen meetings twice, recognisin g and emphasising that his tenure had lapsed.
5. During the 2024 Ondo Govemorship Election, INEC rejected LP agent lists sub mitted under Abure.
6. Abure sued INEC to compel recognition-a legal battle he lost.
7. The Federal High Court erroneously ruled in Abure’s favour, prompting a mislea ding INEC portal entry: “Barr. Julius Abure (by court order).”
8. On September 4, 2025, Labour Party stakeholders, including elected officials a nd statutory NEC members, met in Umuahia, Abia State, and constituted a 29-member National Caretaker Committee led by Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman (Chai man) and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha (Secretary).
9. This committee was mandated to manage the affairs of the party and conduct full congresses from the ward to the national convention.
10. The LP NCC applied to join the suit, and after appealing the erroneous Federal High Court decision, the Court of Appeal upheld Abure’s claim in November 20 24.
11. The LP NCC, led by my humble self, appealed the judgment of the Court of Ap peal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court on April 4, 2025, delivered a fin al and binding judgment:

a. It upheld the appeal by Sen. Nenadi Usman’s Caretaker Committee;

b. It dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal;

c. It set aside the decisions of the lower courts recognising Abure;

d. It warned that party leaders should humbly vacate office at the end of t heir tenure,

e. Honourable Justice John Inyang Okoro specifically declared: “The deci sions of the trial court and the court below, recognising Julius Abure a s the National Chairman of the first respondent (LP), are hereby set a side.”

12. Investigations have revealed that Abure illegally issued State Executive Co mmittee letters every three months, in breach of LP’s constitutional provisio ns.
13. Accordingly, we hereby nullify all letters issued by the erstwhile Chairman to St ate Executive Committees. The National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Con vention Planning Committee is the only organ of the Labour Party with the po wer to appoint State Executive Caretaker Committees.

UPDATE ON COMING PARTY PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

10. It is with great optimism and a sense of renewed purpose that I inform our memb ers across the globe that the leadership of our great Party is diligently working to laun ch the nationwide membership registration, and revalidation exercise in the coming w eeks. This critical step will strengthen our grassroots engagement and reposition the Labour Party as a truly people-driven movement. In furtherance of this, we have form ally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of our planned ac tivities, including the forthcoming ward, local government, state, and zonal congresse s, culminating in the National Convention. Full details and schedules will be communi cated to all stakeholders in the coming days.

CONCLUSION

11. The Labour Party stands united, disciplined, and reinvigorated under my leadershi p and supported by all members of the party. We will no longer tolerate impunity, illeg ality, or personal ambition above Party interest.
12. We reaffirm our commitment to rebuilding the Labour Party as a true vehicle for n ational transformation. The joumey to the limitless possibilities of a new Nigeria cont inues, and we invite every Nigerian of conscience, including some of our members on the other side, to join us.
13. We call on all Labour Party members across Nigeria, irrespective of past disagree ments or affiliations, to continue to support the current leadership and refused to be d emonized by Abure who has played his last card and just clutching at straws. The La bour Party is your home, and we need every hand on deck to build the Party of our dre ams.
14. Let us unite to advance the limitless possibilities of a new Nigeria, one anchored on justice, equity, and the supremacy of the will of the people.

Long live the Labour Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

LABOUR PARTY – FORWARD EVER

Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman Ag. National Chairman

Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, Ag. National Secretary