Supreme Court: Abure No Threat, Labour Party Has Moved On — Usman faction

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) under Senator Nenadi Usman has dismissed the decision of the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, to challenge his removal at the Supreme Court, insisting that his tenure has expired.

Usman, in an interview with The PUNCH, expressed confidence that the apex court would not depart from its earlier position on the party’s leadership dispute.

“My take is that the Supreme Court would maintain its stand. They can’t change what they have done before. If my tenure is over tomorrow, I will go. But it’s not yet over,” she said.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Alex Ikwechegh, also said the outcome of Abure’s appeal was predictable.

According to him, the issues being contested had already been settled by the Supreme Court.

“We can already tell the outcome of that case. Remember that the judgment being debated on today, which the appeal and high courts had affirmed, is a Supreme Court judgment,” he said.

“I also believe that the time for them to have filed for it in the apex court has elapsed. So, we don’t understand what is going on. All we can say is that this issue can be resolved when we sit at a round table and put things together.

“Abure’s tenure has expired. He is no longer in the leadership of the LP. The new chairman is Senator Nenadi Usman.

“However, we don’t have a problem with him as we have now extended a hand of fellowship to him and my big brother, Ceekay Igara, for them to join the fold.”

Ikwechegh said despite the disagreement, the crisis could still be resolved outside the courtroom.

He described the party’s National Leader, Dr Alex Otti, as “a very kind and magnanimous individual,” adding that Abure and others would be welcomed back if they chose reconciliation.

“I am sure they will be accepted like the prodigal son if they agree to return to the party. That will also strengthen and solidify the party,” he stated.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Usman-led faction, Ken Asogwa, also dismissed suggestions that Abure’s legal action posed any threat to the party.

“Abure is no threat to us. As I speak with you, the party has not been served any paper from the Supreme Court as Abure claimed. He needs to be investigated.

“However, let me quickly add that he is a distraction and the party has moved on,” Asogwa said.

The comments came about a month after Abure announced that he had approached the Supreme Court to challenge his removal and the recognition of the Usman-led leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He had made the disclosure during a press conference in Abuja amid renewed tension over the control of the opposition party.

Abure rejected the Court of Appeal judgment affirming Usman as national chairman, describing it as unacceptable and vowing to seek redress at the apex court.

The Labour Party has remained divided into rival camps, with both sides claiming control of the party’s leadership and structures nationwide.