LP crisis: Abure offers forgiveness as court affirms his chairmanship

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has offered forgiveness to those who undermined his leadership following Tuesday’s Federal High Court’s affirmation of his position.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered a ruling that confirmed Abure’s leadership, upholding the legitimacy of the March 2024 Nnewi Convention, which elected the current national executives of the party.

Nwite also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the rightful chairman, countering INEC’s previous stance that his leadership was invalid. INEC had argued that the Labour Party’s convention, held in Anambra State, violated the Constitution and the Electoral Act and claimed that Abure’s tenure expired in June 2024.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Abure expressed gratitude and a willingness to forgive those who sought to undermine his authority.

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“Now that the court has spoken, I offer my forgiveness to those who tried to destabilise our party and engaged in character assassination, particularly targeting me,” Abure said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He urged those involved in the internal crisis to reflect on their actions, seek reconciliation with the party, and consider making amends for the damage caused. “Only through such steps can we heal the party and focus on working for the common good of Nigeria,” he added. Abure also called on the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to help unite the party.

Earlier, in September, Peter Obi, alongside Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti and other party stalwarts, convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, Abia State. During the meeting, a 29-member caretaker committee was formed, chaired by former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, to address the leadership crisis and seek a path forward for the party.

This move followed a protracted leadership dispute, which led to INEC’s refusal to recognise Abure as the party’s chairman. However, the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) rejected the outcome of the Umuahia meeting, dismissing it as illegal and inconsequential.

Speaking on the development, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Trust that the commission has not been served with the court judgement.

“We (INEC) are a law abiding institution. The commission has not received the said court judgement. When the judgment is served, the commission will look at it and take a decision. This has always been the practice,” Oyekanmi said.