The Labour Party has hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court for validating its earlier position that political matters are internal affairs of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Party Obiora Ifoh made the clarification at a news conference in Abuja.
Mr. Ifoh, who explained that the apex court’s verdict has been largely misrepresented in the media, however stated that Comrade Julius Abure remains the party substantive national chairman.
“The apex court, in its decision, emphasised that matters relating to party leadership are internal affairs, over which the judiciary has no jurisdiction.”
Mr. Ifoh insisted that the apex court did not sack Abure.
“The supreme court judgment didn’t sack Labour Party national chairman, Julius Abure. Rather it rightly upheld the preceding and accumulated high courts and appeal court judgments upholding the immutability of the responsibility of Labour Party to choose its leaders.
“The judgement did not also set aside the Appeal Court judgement in Labour Party vs Ebiseni and 2 others (CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024) delivered on 13 November 2024, which affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. The judgement is still valid and subsisting and has not been appealed” the National Publicity Secretary stressed.
“The implication is very clear. Abure remains the Labour Party national chairman. The question is: Who are the leaders of the party? The party constitution is clear as to who the leaders of the party are. The leadership of the party has been the National Working Committee led by Barrister Julius Abure.”
The party spokesman said the party constitution is also clear on who has the power to call for the national convention or any national meeting.
Mr. Ifoh, therefore, called on all true members of the Party to abide by the judgement of the apex court and to always resort to internal party mechanisms in resolving party affairs and not to always rush to the court.
“The position of the Supreme Court is that the structures of the party are capable of handling any matters as it concerns its affairs, and as it is today, the national chairman remains Comrade Julius Abure.
