The court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a judgement delivered on Friday by Hamma Barka, the court ruled that its earlier decision in November 2024, recognising Abure as the party’s chairman, remains valid and has not been overturned by any court.
The ruling came in response to two separate appeals filed by Nenadi Usman, the party’s caretaker committee, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Barka held that the appellate court, in the two separate appeals, did not address the leadership dispute within the party because such matters are not justiciable.
He said anything that is done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity.
Consequently, the court voided a judgement of the federal high court delivered on October 8, 2024, by Emeka Nwite on the grounds that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit.
“We cannot say this appeal fails or succeed because the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place”, Barka held.
