Usman faction rejects Abure’s Supreme Court move
The leadership of the Labour Party under Senator Nenadi Usman has brushed off the decision by embattled National Chairman Julius Abure to take his removal case to the Supreme Court, insisting that his tenure has already ended.
Confidence in the apex court’s earlier ruling
In an interview with The PUNCH, Senator Usman expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold its previous stance on the party’s leadership dispute.
“My take is that the Supreme Court would maintain its stand. They can’t change what they have done before. If my tenure is over tomorrow, I will go. But it’s not yet over,” she said.
House of Representatives member predicts outcome
Alex Ikwechegh, the lawmaker representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, said the appeal’s result is predictable because the issues have already been settled by the nation’s highest court.
“We can already tell the outcome of that case. Remember that the judgment being debated today, which the appeal and high courts had affirmed, is a Supreme Court judgment,” he noted.
Ikwechegh added that the deadline for filing such an appeal has elapsed, describing the current move as puzzling. He affirmed that Abure’s tenure has expired and that Senator Nenadi Usman is the rightful national chairman.
He also extended a hand of fellowship to Abure and fellow party elder Ceekay Igara, urging them to rejoin the fold for the sake of unity.
Publicity secretary calls Abure a distraction
Ken Asogwa, National Publicity Secretary of the Usman‑led faction, dismissed suggestions that Abure’s legal action poses any threat to the party.
“Abure is no threat to us. As I speak with you, the party has not been served any paper from the Supreme Court as Abure claimed. He needs to be investigated,” Asogwa said.
He characterised Abure as a distraction and stressed that the Labour Party has moved on, advocating for a round‑table discussion to resolve the lingering crisis.
Background of the leadership tussle
The remarks came about a month after Abure announced he had approached the Supreme Court to challenge his removal and the recognition of the Usman‑led leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He made the disclosure during a press conference in Abuja amid renewed tension over control of the opposition party, rejecting the Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed Usman as national chairman and vowing to seek redress at the apex court.
The Labour Party remains split into rival camps, each claiming authority over the party’s structures nationwide.
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