Address by Barrister Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party, to the National Executive Council (NEC) – April 7, 2025
Distinguished Members of the National Executive Committee, Esteemed Party Leaders, and Fellow Nigerians,
I welcome you all to this critical session of our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of our Party. Recent developments within our party, particularly in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on the leadership matter, have necessitated this gathering. It is imperative that we, as the stewards of the Labour Party, offer clarity and reaffirm our collective resolve to uphold the sanctity of our constitution, the unity of our structures, and the integrity of our leadership.
Let me begin by extending our profound appreciation to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for its courageous and principled stance in affirming the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs. In its judgement concerning the Labour Party, the apex court unequivocally reasserted that leadership disputes arising within a political party remain within the exclusive purview of the party’s constitution and governance structures. Accordingly, the Court declined jurisdiction in the appeal brought by Senator Nenadi Usman, thereby reinforcing the foundational principle of party autonomy.
This judgment is not merely a legal victory for the Labour Party, it is a significant affirmation of democratic tenets and a milestone for institutional development in Nigeria’s political landscape.
It is, however, regrettable that certain actors, most notably Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha, have chosen to misrepresent the ruling, deliberately misleading the public and attempting to manufacture confusion through a purported “Caretaker Committee.” Let it be stated categorically: this so-called committee is both unconstitutional and illegitimate. Those who convened the meeting in Umuahia lacked the legal authority to do so. Neither holds the office of National Chairman nor National Secretary as required by our party’s constitution.
Permit me to provide an unambiguous account of the current status of our leadership.
The Labour Party held a valid National Convention in 2019, whose tenure was constitutionally due to end in June 2023. In response to the extraordinary demands of the 2023 general elections, our NEC, meeting in Asaba in April of that year, authorized a one-year extension, pushing the end of tenure to June 9, 2024. In line with this resolution and the constitution of our party, a fresh National Convention was duly convened and held on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State. All procedures relating to that Convention were properly executed, and multiple court rulings have validated the legitimacy of the convention.
Furthermore, our Constitution, specifically Articles 12 and 14 of the amended 2024 edition, clearly outlines the structure and authority of the party’s organs. Article 14 vests the power to issue notices for meetings of the National Convention, the NEC, and the National Working Committee (NWC) in the National Secretary, but only with the consultation and approval of the National Chairman. All proper procedures were followed in the convening of the March 2024 Convention, and the actions taken were both constitutional and widely endorsed.
Let it be known across the federation and beyond: there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The National Working Committee, under my chairmanship, remains the recognized and legitimate leadership body of our party. We shall not cede ground to illegitimate actors or unconstitutional contraptions posing as transition committees.
As regards the supreme court judgment, I wish to specifically states as follows:
a) The court asserted the supremacy of the party over its internal affairs and that leadership of a political party is not for any court to decide as it is a no go area for the court and so the court DID NOT sack the NWC under my leadership.
b) The apex court DID NOT set aside the decision of the court below in CA/ABJ/1172/2024 BTW LABOUR PARTY VS. CHIEF EBISENI & 2 ORS decided on 13/11/2024 where it was admitted by the parties that Julius Abure is the National Chairman of the party. That decision was never appealed against and was never reviewed by the apex court. What the court set aside was the reference to it in CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024 btw Sen. Esther Nenadi Usman & Anor VS. Labour Party & ANOR. delivered on 17/01/2025 and so that earlier decision in Ebisenis case remains binding and subsisting.
c) The apex court also admonished political parties to adhere to the provisions of their constitutions and the extant laws, especially with regards to the specified tenure of office and for any elected officer of any political party to step down at the end of their tenure for fresh elections. This is precisely what the leadership of the party did on the 27th March 2024 when it convened a National Convention to elect new officers of the party before the expiration of tenure in June 2024. The court DID NOT say that our tenure had elapsed. The court said that it is the internal mechanism of the party that produced leaders of the party. For the purpose of emphasis, before the expiration of the tenure of the Labour Party NWC elected in 2019 and extended for one year in 2023 and which expiration was supposed to occur on 9th June 2024, a new National Convention was validly convened on 27th March 2024 which produced a new leadership led by Abure and which is currently subsisting. The 27/03/2024 National Convention was in accordance with the 2019 Labour Party Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the CFRN and the INEC regulations and guidelines 2022.
The purported Labour Party Caretaker Committee emerged through unlawful, illegal, crooked, unconstitutional and mischievous means. As deposed to in a counter affidavit filed by INEC in Suit NO: A/212/24 in the High Court of Abia state, No notice was given to INEC for the 04/09/2024 so-called Stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia that produced the purported Caretaker committee.
Also by Article 14(4)(b) of the Labour Party constitution, the “National Secretary shall cause to be issued notices of meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Council, The National Working Committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman, INEC Regulations and Guidelines for political parties operations 2022 stipulates that notices of meetings to INEC shall be signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary and Article 13(B)(XII) of Labour Party constitution mandates only the “National Executive Council to have powers to establish ad-hoc and standing committees of the party and appoint members of such committees”. By the above provisions no meeting of Labour Party held in 04/09/2024, no Caretaker Committees was set up. Also there is no provisions for any Caretaker Committee in the Labour Party Constitution and no vacancy has ever occurred in the leadership of the party.
As opined by the Apex court in this decision, the trite position is that a party is supreme over its affairs, the members and recognized organs of the party are being governed by authentic leadership elected by them on 27/03/2024. The purported Caretaker Committee are meddlesome interlopers and troublemakers whose only mission is to retard the progress of the party and are looking for collaborators.
To our teeming members and steadfast supporters across Nigeria, we assure you that the Labour Party remains united and committed to the vision of delivering transformative leadership. Our mission is clear: to usher in good governance, ensure security for our citizens, drive economic development, provide jobs, and invest meaningfully in infrastructure. Should Nigerians entrust us with power, we are prepared to lead with integrity and purpose.
On a related note, I extend our full support and solidarity to our candidate in Anambra State, Chief George Moghalu. Emerging from a transparent and credible primary election, Chief Moghalu represents the values and vision of the Labour Party. We are confident in his capacity, and we shall campaign vigorously alongside him throughout the length and breadth of Anambra to secure victory.
Finally, to all institutions, agencies, and citizens who may have received misleading narratives about the Labour Party, we urge you to rely on the facts as presented herein. Once the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment is released, we shall make it publicly available for complete transparency.
Let us move forward with unity and renewed commitment.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.
Signed,
Barrister. Julius Abure
National Chairman
Labour Party
April 7, 2025
