The Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed Mr. Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the LP, under Abure’s leadership, all rights and privileges entitled to a registered political party in Nigeria.
In its judgment, the court directed INEC to fulfill its lawful responsibilities, including conducting refresher training for the upload of LP’s agents into the INEC portal. Additionally, the court ordered INEC to provide Abure with the Access Code necessary to access its portal for the upcoming Ondo Governorship Election, scheduled for November 16, 2024.
The court’s decision stemmed from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, which Abure filed against INEC, the sole defendant in the case. In support of his suit, Abure detailed his election as Acting National Chairman of the LP following the death of the previous chairman during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Benin City, Edo State, on March 29, 2021.
Abure also informed the court that during a subsequent NEC meeting on April 18, 2023, in Asaba, Delta State—an event duly monitored by INEC—it was resolved to renew the tenures of State Chairmen whose terms had expired. He further explained that some members engaged in anti-party activities were expelled, leading to the creation of replacement positions.
Following a consensus reached at the April meeting, the LP conducted its National Convention on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State, during which Abure was lawfully elected as the National Chairman