posted 9th April 2025
Labour Party Leaders Submit Supreme Court Ruling to INEC in Bid to Resolve Leadership Crisis
Abuja, 9 April 2025 – In a significant move to address the ongoing leadership turmoil within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP), a delegation led by His Excellency Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has submitted the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a recent Supreme Court decision to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today.
The delegation, which included prominent figures such as Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the LP’s former vice-presidential candidate, Senator Nenadi Usman, the chair of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, was joined by all LP members of the National Assembly, representatives from state assemblies, and the coordinator of the influential Obidient Movement. Their mission: to ensure INEC recognises the Supreme Court’s ruling and facilitates the party’s efforts to rebuild following a contentious leadership dispute.
The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered last Friday, has been hailed by the Usman-led faction as a definitive resolution to the internal conflict that has pitted them against Julius Abure, the party’s former national chairman. While the exact details of the 48-page CTC remain subject to interpretation—Abure’s camp has contested its implications—the submission to INEC marks a bold step by Obi and his allies to assert control and stabilise the LP ahead of future elections.
Speaking at the Labour Party Stakeholders Engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, Governor Otti presented the CTC to an enthusiastic crowd of party faithful, declaring that the document “puts an end to the debate” over the leadership question. “As leaders and elected members of this great party, we are going to leave from here to INEC to submit this document so that we can start the process,” Obi announced, underscoring the urgency of aligning the party with the court’s ruling. “We will go there now and say, ‘Here are the documents from the court. This is our resolution. Can we now start the process of rebuilding with your cooperation?’”
The move follows months of infighting that has threatened to fracture the LP, a party that rose to prominence during the 2023 general elections thanks to widespread support from young Nigerians and the Obidient Movement. The leadership crisis intensified when the Usman-led caretaker committee, backed by Obi and Otti, emerged to challenge Abure’s tenure, which INEC had previously deemed expired in June 2024. The Supreme Court’s intervention last week, which ruled that lower courts lacked jurisdiction over internal party matters, has been interpreted by Obi’s faction as a victory for their reform efforts.
INEC’s response to the submission remains critical. The electoral body has pledged neutrality, with Acting Chairman Sam Olumekun receiving the delegation earlier today. A statement from INEC confirmed that “meaningful discussions” took place, aimed at “reinforcing democratic values,” though no immediate decision on recognising Usman’s leadership was announced.
For the Labour Party, the stakes are high. With the 2027 elections looming, unity and clarity in leadership are seen as essential to maintaining the momentum that made the LP a formidable opposition force. As the delegation departed INEC headquarters, supporters expressed hope that this latest development would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the party—and for Nigeria’s political landscape.
