The Appeals Court confirmed Nenadi Usman as Head of the Prison

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday dismissed an appeal filed by Julius Abure, challenging the legitimacy of the leadership of the Labor Party led by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman.

The three-member appellate court panel, in its ruling, unanimously affirmed the January 21 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Lifu, in his assessment, upholds the legitimacy of the LP management which consists of 29 people led by Usman.

The judge relied on a Supreme Court ruling on April 4, 2025 which declared Abure’s term as National Chairman of the party to have ended.

In Tuesday’s hearing, the appeals court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Usman and other members of the committee as legitimate LP leaders.

The main judgment was delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with which Justices Abba Mohammed and Eberechi Nyesom-Wike agreed.

ALSO READ: LP crisis continues as NEC sacks Nenadi Usman as chairman

The appeals court stated that the previous Supreme Court decision conclusively resolved the leadership dispute within the LP when it overturned the convention that purportedly reinstated Abure as National Chairman.

The court further stated that subordinate courts have the authority under Article 251 of the Constitution to compel statutory bodies of the Federal Government to carry out their functions when ordering INEC to recognize Usman as National Chairman of the LP.

The court also agreed that the formation of a LP management committee, headed by Usman, was a necessary doctrine to provide leadership within the party when a vacuum appeared to exist.

The court faulted Abure’s claim that he was not given a fair hearing by the court and accused him of engaging in abuse of the court process.

The court also accused Abure of engaging in forum shopping by approaching the Nasarawa State High Court on a case already decided by the Supreme Court.

Also, and for continuing to file charges against the party leadership despite clear and unambiguous statements from the highest court.