Nigeria’s Labour Party has reaffirmed its respect for the Supreme Court ruling that resolved its leadership crisis, in response to recent remarks by Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate.
In a press release signed by Ken Asogwa, media aide to Interim National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman, the party clarified that the apex court’s April 2025 judgement nullified the claims of former party chair Julius Abure. The party urged all members to respect the judicial decision and work towards internal reconciliation.
Dr Baba-Ahmed had appeared at a recent gathering organised by Abure, where he was said to have referred to him as the substantive national chairman—a position the party says is in contradiction to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The Supreme Court ruled that all previous decisions recognising Abure as chairman are void, and the case itself was struck out for lack of jurisdiction,” the statement said. “This means Abure has no legal claim to the office, and Senator Usman remains the duly recognised leader of the party.”
The party stressed that while it values members’ rights to freedom of expression, it expects discipline, unity, and respect for the rule of law—especially as it prepares for key congresses and a national convention ahead of the 2027 elections.
In response, a spokesperson for the Abure faction accused Usman and her supporters of misinterpreting the judgment. “The ruling simply stated that courts lack jurisdiction in party matters. It did not affirm anyone’s leadership. The party should respect that and avoid selective interpretation,” he said.
Despite ongoing tensions, both sides appear focused on the 2027 general elections. The Usman-led faction called for reconciliation based on legal facts, while the Abure group stated that the party must look ahead, undistracted by internal rifts.
As the political climate intensifies, the Labour Party’s internal unity—or lack thereof—could play a significant role in its ability to present a viable challenge to the ruling APC in future elections.
