The Labour Party (LP) caretaker committee, headed by Nenadi Usman, officially took over the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday following a favourable judgment from the Federal High Court.
Gatekeepers News reports that the court affirmed that Usman’s faction represents the legitimate leadership of the party. Presiding judge Peter Lifu ruled that evidence presented showed the tenure of Julius Abure, the previous national chairman, had expired.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to formally recognise the Usman-led caretaker committee as the authorised leadership body of the party.
Usman and members of her team arrived at the Utako district secretariat, which had been under the control of Abure’s national working committee—around 11 am to resume operations.
This takeover marks the latest chapter in a protracted leadership struggle that began in 2023 and had escalated to the Supreme Court before being revived at the federal high court.
Although INEC has now recognised the Usman faction, the Abure camp has rejected both the court ruling and INEC’s decision, signalling its intention to appeal.
Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary for Abure’s faction, accused the court of misinterpreting the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court decision, asserting that the apex court clearly stated no judicial body has the authority to appoint party leaders since party leadership is an internal matter.
The leadership crisis has divided the LP for nearly three years, with the Abure-led and Usman-led factions contesting control over the party’s structures, resources, and electoral decisions.
