The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has vowed to challenge the Court of Appeal ruling recognising Senator Nenadi Usman as the Authority of the Labour party by taking the matter to the Supreme Court.

The decision follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal affirming the current leadership of the party as the recognised national leadership which is under Senator Usman as legally approve to pursue court cases on behalf of the Labour Party.

The decision of the court arose when the panel heard arguments from both factions in a dispute over an appeal arising from a pre-election matters of the last local government election in Abia State, where the candidate of the Labour party under the leadership of Bar Julius Abure participated and assumed to have won the election, while the candidates who were loyal to the Governor of Abia State were previously submitted as candidates of the Labour party but contested under another party platform and were alleged to have a double nominations having contested under the Zenith Labour Party.
The matter which was filled at the Appeal Court in Owerri, was dismissed by the panel in a ruling, that the matter was filed without the approval of the party’s recognised leadership, holding that such actions could not validly represent the party.

Reacting to the ruling, the spokesperson for the Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, said the group was dissatisfied with the verdict but would comply with the court’s decision while immediately seeking redress at the Supreme Court.

He expressed confidence that the apex court would overturn the judgment and restore what the faction describes as the legitimate leadership of the party.

Ifoh argued that issues relating to the leadership of a political party are internal affairs that should be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution and established procedures.

He maintained that no court has nullified the Nnewi National Convention that produced Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

According to him, the leadership elected at the convention remains valid and will continue to function until the expiration of its tenure in 2028.

This is another dimension of several litigations in the leadership crisis within the Labour Party signifying that the dispute is far from over, with both factions expected to continue the battle through the judicial process as the party prepares for future political activities.