Umeh: “INEC Cannot Disobey Supreme Court By Continuing To Recognize Abure”
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central under the Labour Party (LP), has declared that the Supreme Court’s recent judgment has effectively nullified previous court orders recognizing Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party. Speaking in an exclusive interview on Arise Prime Time shortly after a key LP meeting, Umeh emphasized that the ruling marks a turning point for the party, ending months of internal strife and leadership disputes.
Umeh explained that Abure’s recognition as LP Chairman was based solely on orders from a trial court and the Court of Appeal, both directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to acknowledge him in that capacity. However, the Supreme Court, in a decisive ruling following an appeal by Senator Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha—representing the LP’s National Caretaker Committee—set aside these lower court orders and dismissed a cross-appeal filed by Abure. “The Supreme Court said the judgment recognizing Abure as LP Chairman is hereby set aside,” Umeh stated, emphasizing the clarity of the verdict.
The senator clarified that prior to Abure’s court-backed tenure, INEC had determined that his executive’s term had expired, a position now reinstated by the Supreme Court’s decision. “The orders directing INEC to recognize Abure have been nullified. We are back to the position where INEC rightly ceased to deal with him as an officer of the party,” Umeh said. He argued that this development paves the way for the National Caretaker Committee, led by Nenadi Usman, to assume leadership and steer the LP toward stability.
The meeting, attended by prominent LP figures but notably boycotted by Abure and his faction, saw the party ratify Usman’s leadership unanimously. Umeh revealed plans for the committee to organize ward, local government, and state congresses, culminating in a national convention to establish a permanent leadership structure. “Nature abhors a vacuum. When INEC determined Abure’s tenure had ended, the party took steps to fill that gap, and now we will do what he failed to do—follow the constitution and build from the ground up,” he said.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive that political parties resolve internal disputes through their own mechanisms, Umeh dismissed Abure’s claims that the judgment favored him. “He lost the appeal, and his cross-appeal was dismissed. How can he say nothing has changed? The court was clear—his recognition as chairman is no longer valid,” Umeh asserted. He suggested that Abure’s refusal to relinquish power stems from personal ambition, noting that the Supreme Court had admonished party officers to “humbly bow out” when their tenure expires—a step Abure has resisted.
Abure’s faction remains defiant, with supporters insisting the ruling supports their stance and vowing to fight back. This ongoing rift has fueled public disrepute for the LP, a party that, under Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential candidacy, reached unprecedented heights of popularity. Umeh acknowledged the damage but expressed optimism: “The worst is over. The faithful have come together, and we are forging a new direction.”
When asked about Abure’s control of the party secretariat, Umeh clarified that the LP has adhered to legal processes. “He ran to court to secure his position when we moved to take over. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, we will operate as the law permits,” he said, predicting that INEC would soon remove Abure’s name from its records in compliance with the judgment.
Looking ahead, Umeh invited Abure to contest in the upcoming congresses if he believes in his leadership record. “Let him come and test his popularity through the proper process,” he challenged. For now, the LP under Usman’s caretaker leadership is poised to rebuild, aiming to restore confidence and unity after months of uncertainty. As the party prepares for its next chapter, all eyes will be on INEC’s response and Abure’s next move in this ongoing saga.
