The Labour Party faction led by Julius Abure has reaffirmed that Abure remains the party’s National Chairman, with his tenure valid until 2028, dismissing claims suggesting otherwise.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Abure’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communications, Aju Elumelu-James, the party said the clarification was necessary amid widespread conflicting narratives about the leadership of the Labour Party.
The statement noted that while the matter is currently before the Court of Appeal, judicial proceedings should not be confused with the party’s constitutional facts.
It traced the leadership history of the party: following the death of former National Chairman Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam in December 2020, Deputy National Chairman Maria Lebeke served as acting chairman.
Abure was then unanimously elected by the National Executive Council (NEC) on March 29, 2021, to complete the late chairman’s tenure.
Before the extended tenure expired in June 2024, a National Convention held on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi reaffirmed the party’s leadership, setting Abure’s term to run through 2028.
The statement emphasized that reports suggesting Abure’s tenure had ended are misleading and untrue. It clarified that the Supreme Court did not rule on the validity of the Nnewi convention or the party leadership, only confirming that political party leadership disputes are internal matters beyond judicial jurisdiction.
The Abure-led faction urged members and the public to rely on verified constitutional facts and respect the party’s recognised structures, including the National Working Committee, National Executive Council, and National Convention, as the only authorities on leadership matters.
This clarification follows recent tensions after a January Federal High Court ruling removed Abure as chairman in favour of a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman and last week’s allegations by the Usman-led NWC of a purported invasion of the party secretariat by Abure’s supporters.