The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division on Tuesday, upheld the judgement of the Federal High Court which affirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the national leader of the Labour Party (LP)
In a unanimous judgement of a three-member panel of Justices of the court delivered by Justice, Oyejoju Oyewumi, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Barrister Julius Abure challenging the leadership of the Labour Party.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, relied on the earlier judgment of the Supreme Court that removed Barr. Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.
Dissatisfied with that decision of the trial court, Barr. Abure approached the Court of Appeal in suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 – Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors – seeking to overturn the judgment of the lower court.
In the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike concurring, the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court.
The court held that the Supreme Court had, on 4th April 2025, conclusively settled the leadership dispute within the Labour Party when it nullified the convention that purportedly returned Barr. Abure as national chairman.
The appellate court held that the court below had the powers under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel a statutory Federal Government agency to perform its functions when it ordered INEC to recognise Senator Nenadi Usman as the national chairman of the Labour Party.
The appellate court also agreed with the trial court that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, headed by Nenadi Usman, was a doctrine of necessity needed to provide leadership in the party when there appeared to be a vacuum.
The Justices accused Barr. Abure of abuse of court process and for engaging in forum shopping at a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court, and for persisting in laying claim to the leadership of the party despite the clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court.
The Court of Appeal further held that the appeal as filed by Abure, “Was devoid of merit and and it is hereby dismissed.
“On the whole, I agree with the decision and conclusion of the trial court as same, been in accordance with the Constitution”, Justice Oyewumi held and added that, the lower court has arrived at a reasonable conclusion which cannot be faulted by the Court of Appeal.
Consequently, the court, while dismissing the appeal by Barr. Abure, imposed a cost of N10 million against him in favour of the respondents for wasting the judicial time of the court on a matter that had already been conclusively determined.
Earlier in the judgement, the appellate court held that, Nenadi Usman, as a juristic person has the right to file the case before the trial court, adding also that the trial court has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The court also rejected Abure’s allegation that he was denied fair hearing by the lower court, adding that the issue of fair hearing does not arise in the case.
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