Nigeria’s Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria, and presided by Justice Emeka Nwite, has on Tuesday, affirmed Julius Abure’s position as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In an originating summons in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, Labour Party v INEC, the plaintiff asked the court to decide, among other things, whether by the combined interpretation of Sections 251(1)(r) and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 43 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the plaintiff is entitled to be issued the Notice of the Refresher Training for Upload of Political Party Agents onto the Independent National Electoral Commission Portal for the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled to hold on 16th November 2024 by the defendant.
It also prayed the court for an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party, under the leadership of Abure, all the rights and privileges accorded to a political party duly registered in Nigeria and a cost of 5 million naira for the action.
Justice Nwite, in a ruling, validated the March 2024 Nnewi national convention of the party that produced the Abure-led executive and also issued an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to validate and recognise the Abure-led leadership of the party.
Justice Nwite said: “I am of the view that, based on these cogent verifiable documents, the defendants’ attempt to impeach the validity of the leadership of the plaintiff fails.
“The plaintiff has proved his case, and I hereby make an order compelling the defendant to accord the plaintiff’s political party, under the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure, all the rights and privileges accorded to a political party duly registered in Nigeria.”