Julius Abure has been officially recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
This is following a court order from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has again rejected the leadership of Julius Abure of the Labour Party (LP), stating that the ruling of the Abuja Federal High Court will not alter their stance.
Recall that on October 8, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite, validated the Labour Party’s national convention held in Nnewi in March 2024.
The court declared the convention lawful and ordered INEC to recognize the leadership of Abure and the National Working Committee (NWC) elected during the event.
INEC’s decision to recognise Abure was disclosed in a letter addressed to Barrister Abure and the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, invited the Labour Party to participate in its fourth consultative meeting with political parties.
This marks the first time INEC is engaging with the party under the leadership of Abure, following a prolonged legal dispute.
Speaking after the INEC meeting, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim expressed satisfaction with the electoral body’s compliance with the court’s ruling.
He noted that, while the party had been unjustly excluded from earlier engagements, it has now regained its place among the 18 registered political parties.
Ibrahim said: “We are glad that INEC has obeyed the court order. With this, the Labour Party is ready to participate in all upcoming political activities, including the Anambra governorship election.”
On the other hand, in a statement issued on Thursday, Theophilus Ndubuaku, acting chairman of the NLC Political Commission, criticized Abure’s leadership, accusing him of undermining the party’s stability ahead of upcoming elections.
Ndubuaku described the court’s ruling as a “gross miscarriage of justice,” pointing out that the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – both constitutionally recognized in the party’s structure – were not part of the legal proceedings.
“The NLC Political Commission sees the judgment as another act of desperation and deceit by Julius Abure and his group, whose only aim is to exploit the Labour Party’s goodwill for personal gain,” Ndubuaku stated.
He further accused Abure of working for external interests aimed at sabotaging the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ndubuaku expressed disappointment over the court’s support for the Nnewi convention, which he claims was conducted in violation of party rules and previous court orders.
He also questioned why the NLC and TUC were excluded from the legal processes.
Ndubuaku said, “The NLC Political Commission views the judgement as another act of desperation and subterfuge by Mr. Julius Abure and his motley of hangers-on merchants who have no other job than to leech and parasitise on the goodwill of the Labour Party in furtherance of their pecuniary interest.
“It is unfortunate that by adopting mischievous and clandestine approach to the judiciary, Mr. Julius Abure and his ilk who are certainly in the employment of entrenched interests bent on sabotaging and destabilising the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general election have continued to pull the wool over the eyes of our justice system.
