The Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives hailed the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to remove Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.
The caucus highlighted that Abure’s departure will provide stability and innovation to the party.
According to the caucus, the decision is relevant advice for leaders who play god in the affairs of mankind, especially in a democracy.
Afam Ogene, the caucus leader, termed the development a “veritable tonic for the revitalisation of the party” that has been besieged by leadership fights recently, in a statement issued on Friday shortly after the Supreme Court verdict.
He praised the Supreme Court for the decision, emphasising that LP now has a new lease of life.
The Supreme Court overturned an Abuja Court of Appeal decision that acknowledged Abure as the party chairman.
In a unanimous decision on Friday, a five-member panel of the highest court in the land ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked authority to appoint Abure as the National Chairman of the LP, having previously found that the substance of the dispute was about party leadership.
The Anambra lawmaker added that with the ruling, “The party will hasten to implement necessary mechanisms to restore internal peace and get the party back on track to reassure its teeming members of the party’s viability for future elections and its commitment to leadership that prioritises the interests and welfare of the people.
“Next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, led by respected former Minister of Finance Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward.”
Ogene further opined that the crisis which had threatened the stability of the LP in recent times could have been prevented if Abure and his team had heeded the caucus’ advice or addressed the concerns of other stakeholders.
“These stakeholders had urged caution and greater sensitivity in managing the party’s affairs. But in a brazen display of arrogance and naked power-mongering, Abure had ignored these warnings, thus creating an environment for crisis to fester.
“Rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027. That was not only insensitive but also undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, unity, sustainability, and progress of the party,” the statement read in part.
According to him, “It is this uncertainty of not being sure of getting a party ticket in the next general elections that has made the caucus lose as many as six members.”
“For instance, in March 2024, LP House of Representatives members called for the postponement of the national convention of the party scheduled to take place by the end of that month to allow for further consultations in light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.
“The caucus had emphasised at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts. As direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.
