A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has affirmed a leadership change in the Labour Party, one of the country’s major opposition parties, by recognising a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman and removing Julius Abure as national chairman.
In a judgement delivered on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, Justice Peter Lifu held that the material placed before the court showed that Abure’s tenure as Labour Party national chairman had already expired.
The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria’s electoral management body, to immediately recognise the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the only valid authority representing the Labour Party, pending when the party holds a national convention to elect its substantive leadership.
Justice Lifu based his decision on a Supreme Court judgement delivered on Friday, 04 April 2025, which he said settled key issues around the party’s leadership and tenure questions. He stated that the Supreme Court decision provided the foundation for recognising the caretaker arrangement now being led by Senator Usman.
The case was brought to court by Senator Usman. In the suit, Abure was listed as a defendant alongside the Nigerian Labour Congress, Nigeria’s umbrella trade union body, which has historically been linked to the formation of the Labour Party.
During the proceedings, Abure argued that the dispute was an internal party matter that courts should not decide. However, the judge rejected that position, saying the creation of the caretaker committee was “a necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s earlier orders and the circumstances around the party’s leadership situation.
Separately, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee had also announced on Thursday, 09 January 2026, that it would recognise Senator Usman as national chairman, describing the move as consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling of Friday, 04 April 2025, which it said confirmed that Abure’s tenure had elapsed.
In a statement attributed to the party leadership, the Labour Party said: “The NWC reaffirmed that all congresses and the National Convention of the Party shall hold accordingly, in strict compliance with the provisions of the Party Constitution. Members at all levels are therefore encouraged to actively participate in the congress processes.”