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Abure Defies Court Ruling, Refuses To Accept Labour Party Leadership Loss
Abure Defies Court Ruling, Refuses To Accept Labour Party Leadership Loss....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, invalidated all the off-season governorship primary elections overseen by Julius Abure, the party’s national chairman, introducing a new dimension to the ongoing leadership dispute within the Labour Party.
The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognize and publish the names of the governorship candidates in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states that were endorsed by the Lamidi Apapa-led National Working Committee during a court session relocated from Owerri to Abuja due to security concerns.
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Furthermore, the appellate court rejected Senator Athan Achonu’s bid for the Imo State governorship position.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Apapa maintained that the court’s ruling affirmed that Abure was not the legitimate party chairman during the primary elections. Apapa emphasized that the Federal High Court’s ban on Abure posing as the LP chairman had not been lifted.
Apapa stated, “The Edo State matter primarily concerns civil matters. The Excos in Edo suspended him and went to court because of that, but they lack the authority to suspend him. I’m referring to the ward level. However, the FCT (court) restraining order pertains to criminal matters and involves the state and Abure, and nobody is above the law. That’s the distinction between a civil matter and a criminal matter. The FCT order has not been vacated, and that is why the Appeal Court affirmed that the restraining order was in place when he conducted his primary, and it remains in force to this day. That is the distinction between the two.
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The factional leader also noted that the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, had acted in defiance of the court’s ruling during a recent party event in Benin City. Apapa expressed his willingness to pursue reconciliation.
However, Abure responded in an exclusive phone conversation with The PUNCH, dismissing the news as “fake.” He asserted that Senator Athan Achonu was their candidate and clarified that the lower court had declared no jurisdiction and ordered the status quo to be maintained.
The LP National Secretary, Umar Farouk, pointed out that Abure’s name was not mentioned in the appellate court’s ruling, contradicting the reports. Farouk declared, “That report was incorrect. There was no mention of Abure in the ruling. The judgment contained no reference to him. Someone somewhere misinterpreted the judgment. It is incorrect.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in its ongoing leadership dispute, describing the legal body’s position as a validation of its long-standing claims of judicial abuse.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the NBA’s caution against forum shopping and abuse of court processes supports its stance that attempts to challenge its leadership in court are legally flawed.
The ADC said the NBA had clarified that courts do not have jurisdiction over internal affairs of political parties and that seeking interim or interlocutory orders in such matters contravenes the Electoral Act.
According to the party, this position aligns with its belief that the legal process is being manipulated for political purposes rather than genuine dispute resolution.
It described the situation as a coordinated attempt to weaponise the judiciary, which the NBA had reportedly condemned as abuse of court process driven by forum shopping and malicious litigation.
The ADC further linked the crisis to broader political tensions, alleging that it reflects anxiety within the ruling party amid insecurity, economic hardship, and declining public trust ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party warned that any court orders obtained contrary to due process would be legally defective and unenforceable.
While commending the NBA for urging disciplinary action against erring legal practitioners and judicial officers, the ADC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain strictly neutral.
It stressed that INEC must not take any action that could legitimise what it described as unlawful judicial interference in party affairs.
The party added that the matter goes beyond internal politics and concerns the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy, vowing to pursue all lawful means to defend its position.
An aspirant for the 2027 Lagos governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has said the party has not adopted any consensus or anointed candidate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Gbenga Ogunleye, Jandor aligned with the official position of the Lagos APC leadership, stressing that no aspirant has been selected ahead of the party’s primary election.
He insisted that all interested aspirants will participate in a credible and competitive primary to determine the party’s flagbearer.
However, he noted that if the party leadership eventually opts for a consensus arrangement, he would respect and fully support the decision regardless of who emerges.
According to the statement, Jandor reaffirmed his commitment to the race, saying he is actively strengthening his grassroots support base and engaging widely with party stakeholders across Lagos State.
He also cautioned against mistaking individual campaigns or group endorsements as the official position of the APC leadership.
Jandor maintained that only an official pronouncement from the party leadership would determine its final choice of candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District and a 2027 governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari Abdulfatai, has urged Nigerian women to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said Tinubu’s continuity in office was necessary to sustain ongoing reforms and promote equity, justice, and fairness across the country.
Buhari made the call while speaking with journalists at the end of a three-day women’s capacity-building programme held in Oyo North.
He commended the President for creating an enabling environment that allowed lawmakers to initiate empowerment programmes targeting women, especially in small and medium-scale enterprises within agricultural value chains.
The senator disclosed that 120 women from across Oyo State benefited from the training, with each receiving ₦100,000 to support their businesses.
He urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to improve their livelihoods and continue supporting the administration’s policies.
Buhari also encouraged participants to pray for the President, describing him as committed to improving the welfare of women and youths.
He explained that beneficiaries were drawn from all three senatorial districts in Oyo State, expressing confidence that Tinubu would emerge as the APC presidential candidate in 2027.
According to him, both he and the President recognise the crucial role of women in securing electoral victory for the party.
He added that more empowerment and capacity-building programmes would be rolled out in the near future to further support women and small business owners.
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