The ongoing power struggle within the Labour Party (LP) between the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee resurfaced with renewed intensity following a public declaration by the Abure faction asserting their legitimate control over the party. This declaration, delivered through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, at a press briefing in Abuja, emphasized the absence of any leadership vacuum within the LP and cautioned key figures like Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgment.
The Abure-led NWC contends that the Supreme Court, contrary to popular interpretations, affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s National Convention held in Nnewi on March 27, 2024. They argue that the apex court’s recognition of the principle of non-justiciability in internal party disputes underscores the binding nature of a party’s constitution, rules, and regulations on its members. The NWC asserts that by freely joining the party, members implicitly consent to be governed by these internal mechanisms. Therefore, they insist, any disputes concerning leadership should be resolved internally according to the party’s established procedures.
The Abure faction further emphasizes that all legal prerequisites were met before the contentious national convention, adhering to the LP Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution. They accuse those challenging their tenure of misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s judgment, pointing to the court’s explicit encouragement for party members to respect the party’s constitution and utilize its internal dispute resolution mechanisms. This, they argue, serves as a clear directive for resolving the current leadership crisis within the party through established internal processes rather than through external legal challenges.
This recent declaration from the Abure camp comes two weeks after supporters of Obi and Otti presented a certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment at a separate National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, attended by various stakeholders. Otti had proclaimed that the document definitively settled any misinterpretations of the verdict. However, the Abure faction’s latest statement directly contradicts this assertion, arguing that their interpretation of the judgment is accurate and that they remain the legitimate leadership of the Labour Party.
This renewed assertion of authority by the Abure-led NWC further complicates the already fractured state of the Labour Party. The conflicting interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment and the parallel NEC meetings demonstrate the deep divisions within the party. The call for Obi and Otti to respect the Supreme Court judgment, as interpreted by the Abure faction, adds another layer of complexity to the power struggle. The lack of immediate response from the Usman-led caretaker committee and the Obi camp further underscores the uncertainty surrounding the party’s future direction.
The ongoing tussle for control within the Labour Party highlights the challenges associated with internal party democracy and the interpretation of legal pronouncements. The conflicting claims and parallel structures threaten to paralyze the party’s operations and hinder its ability to effectively participate in future elections. The lack of a unified front could lead to further fragmentation and potentially weaken the party’s standing in the political landscape. The divergent interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment necessitate a clear and decisive resolution to prevent protracted internal strife and allow the party to move forward with its political agenda.
