Appeal court affirms Julius Abure as Labour Party chairman

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, has upheld Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

In the case of Lucky Shaibu v. Julius Abure & 5 Others (Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), the court reached this conclusion.

The plaintiff, Shauibu, a Labour Party member in Ward 3 Executive of the Esan North East Local Government Area, had previously taken steps to suspend Abure and sought to challenge his status as the National Chairman.

A panel of judges, made up of Justices Theresa Ngolika Orji Abdua, Fatima Omoro Akinbami, and Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi, unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant in favour of Abure.

In the lead ruling, Justice Abadua upheld the ruling of the High Court of Edo State and ruled that the national chairman of the Labour Party cannot be suspended by a single individual.

The court ruling was made in accordance with Articles 13 and 17 of the Constitution of the Party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022, particularly when the appellant has been described by the party as unknown.

As a result, the Court nullified the previous suspension imposed on Abure, along with all subsequent actions carried out against both Abure and the party following the contested suspension.

Reacting to the judgement, Abure expressed his appreciation for the ruling and praised the justices for their impartial approach to the case.

Abure’s legal representative, GC Igbokwe, applauded the verdict, describing it as sound, courageous, and unimpeachable.

Igbokwe reasserted that Abure remains the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party until the forthcoming party convention.

The lead counsel to Labour Party, Prest. Aigbokhan said the decision of the Court of Appeal has given 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 the watchdog of national conscience.”