Appeal Court Affirms Abure as Labour Party’s National Chairman

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, Edo State capital has affirmed Mr. Julius Abure, as the National Chairman of Labour Party.

In the case of Mr. Lucky Shaibu versus Julius Abure and five others, (Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), His Lordships Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, Fatima Omoro Akinbami JCA and Hon. Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi JCA in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the appellant.

One Lucky Shauibu who claimed to be a member of Labour Party in Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, had suspended the chairman of Labour Party.

In his lead judgment Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, affirmed the decision of the High Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the national chairman of Labour Party in line with Article 13 and 17 of the constitution of the party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022, particularly when the appellant had been described by the party as unknown.

The court unanimously nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension.

In swift reaction to the judgment, Abure eulogised the judgment and team of justices who refused to close their eyes to the justice of the case. He also thanked the team of selfless lawyers led by G.C Igbokwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Abure added: “I thank the Obidient movement who tarry with me and Mr. Peter Obi while the impostor Mr. Lamidi Apapa and his adherents who tried to trade off the mandate freely given to the Labour Party with billions of Naira expended by his paymasters in the opposition parties.” 

Igbokwe, applauded the judgment describing it as sound, courageous and unimpeachable, noted that Abure remains the national chairman of Labour Party until the party convention holds.

President Aigbokhan, the lead counsel to Labour Party said the decision of the Court of Appeal had given a rest to the battle for the soul of the party.

According to him, “It is a landmark judgement that will stand the test of time. Anybody still associating with impostors parading themselves as factional leaders of the party does so at their own peril. Political parties must remain watchdog of national conscience.”