Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) leadership crisis escalated on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Julius Abure’s tenure as National Chairman has expired, paving the way for a new leadership structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Justice Peter Lifu held that Abure could no longer continue in office, relying on a Supreme Court judgment delivered in April 2025, which mandates political parties to strictly comply with their constitutions and tenure limits.
As part of the ruling, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the legitimate leadership of the Labour Party.
Justice Lifu also rejected claims that the matter was an internal party affair, stating that courts are empowered to intervene when a leadership dispute threatens the survival of a political party.
The court further validated the Labour Party stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, hosted by Governor Alex Otti and attended by Peter Obi, where the caretaker committee was constituted.
The Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) has rejected the ruling and announced plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused the court of misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s position and insisted that the March 2024 Nnewi National Convention, which re-elected Abure, remains valid.
“The party will go on appeal and put its position before the Court of Appeal. The Labour Party is not for sale,” Ifoh said.
The faction also denied the existence of any leadership vacuum within the party.
The ruling significantly reshapes the Labour Party’s political landscape as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The Obi–Otti-backed faction now has legal backing to organise a national convention and reposition the party, while the Abure faction risks marginalisation if the appellate court upholds the ruling—potentially affecting candidate nominations in upcoming elections.
