NEWS LEVERAGE

Despite a Supreme Court ruling that removed Julius Abure from his position as National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Afam Ogene, leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, has said that Abure is still eligible to seek re-election.

Ogene made this assertion on Wednesday, amid ongoing tensions and competing claims to the party’s leadership.

The Supreme Court recently nullified an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal that had affirmed Abure’s leadership, reigniting a bitter internal struggle within the party. However, Ogene clarified that the judgment does not bar Abure from participating in a future leadership contest, provided the process is carried out according to party rules.

“He may have been removed, but that does not preclude him from contesting again. He just needs to follow the proper procedures, which begin with the formation of structures from the ward level,” Eugene explained.

The leadership tussle has exposed deep rifts in the LP, with key party stakeholders, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, backing a newly formed caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman.

The move is seen as an attempt to restore order and legitimacy within the party, although both factions continue to interpret the Supreme Court ruling in ways that bolster their respective positions.

Ogene went further to accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of meddling in LP affairs, alleging that the APC is using abuse to create instability in the opposition party. “It’s a calculated move by the APC to cause division in our ranks,” he claimed.

Regarding the party’s national secretariat, currently controlled by Abure’s loyalists, Ogene expressed optimism that the rightful leadership would soon regain access. “We are taking steps rooted in due process and are confident that the situation will be resolved shortly,” he said.

The unfolding power struggle signals a pivotal moment for the Labour Party, as it navigates legal setbacks, internal factions, and claims of external sabotage.