Labour Party’s internal leadership struggle has taken another twist, as the party’s caucus leader in the House of Representatives, Honourable Afam Ogene, clarified that Julius Abure, though removed as chairman, still has the right to vie for the position again through the appropriate process.
Abure’s leadership faced a serious blow following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified a previous Court of Appeal decision affirming him as the National Chairman. The ruling sparked a new wave of leadership tussles within the party, with both factions interpreting the verdict in their favour.
In response to the development, a caretaker committee has been established under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman. The move was supported by top party figures including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, signaling a shift in internal dynamics.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Honourable Ogene stated clearly that Abure has effectively been removed from office by the judgment but remains eligible to re-enter the race for leadership—if he goes through the proper channels.
“Exit the stage, but that does not mean leaving the Labour Party. The door is still open for him to run for election if he wants to remain as the national chairman, but the process must be followed through. He would have to wait when we have the structures from the wards and up,” Ogene said.
Ogene also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to exploit the situation for political advantage by propping up Abure in order to sow discord within the opposition.
Regarding the party’s national headquarters, which remains under the control of the Abure-led faction, Ogene assured that it would soon be reclaimed by the newly constituted leadership.
“We’re following the law, and in a matter of days, we’ll take over the secretariat,” he stated.
The leadership transition was formalized during the Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The session was chaired by Senator Nenadi Usman and attended by Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, Governor Otti, and several lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly.
Despite the turbulence, Ogene emphasized that the Labour Party remains committed to restructuring and stabilizing its internal framework through due process and grassroots mobilization.
