The unending inter- party leadership crisis in the Labour Party took another dimension on Monday when the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City affirmed Comrade Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
The judgement followed an appeal marked No: CA/B/93/2023, filed by LP’s chieftain, Lucky Shaibu, against Abure and five others.
In a unanimous judgement on Monday, Justices, Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua, Fatima Omoro Akinbami and Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi, dismissed the appeal.
The party spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, explained that “one Lucky Shauibu, who claimed to be a member of Labour Party in Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East of Edo State, suspended the Chairman of Labour Party.
“In his lead judgment, Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, affirmed the decision of the High Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the National Chairman of Labour Party in line with Article 13 and 17 of the Constitution of the Party and the extant Electoral Act of 2022, particularly when the appellant has been described by the party as unknown.
“The court unanimously nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Com. Julius Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension.”
Reacting to the judgment, Comrade Abure commended the team of justices, “who refused to close their eyes to the justice of the case”.
“I thank the Obidient movement, who tarry with me while the impostor lasted,” he said.
Abure also thanked the team of “selfless lawyers led by his lead counsel, GC Igbokwe (SAN).”
