In a recent development, the State High Court in Edo has dismissed the suspension notice issued against Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party.
News About Nigeria reports that the judge, Justice Emmanuel Aihamoje, ruled that the case lacked merit and subsequently threw it out. Abure, along with the executives of LP Ward 3 in Esan North East of Edo State, filed the action.
During the judgment, which lasted nearly two hours, Aihamoje determined that the party ward executive in Uromi, specifically in ward 3, did not possess the authority, as outlined in the Labour Party Constitution, particularly Act 13 & 17, and the amended Electoral Act 2022, to remove the national chairman of the party.
Consequently, the judge, in Suit No: HUC/21/2023, imposed a perpetual injunction against Lamidi Apapa and his faction, prohibiting them from removing or suspending Abure as the national chairman until a new national convention is convened.
Furthermore, Aihamoje emphasized that the purported executive members from ward 3 who had suspended the national chairman had acted beyond the powers vested in them by the Labour Party Constitution.
The ruling brought relief to Abure and his supporters, with Thompson Ehiguese, the LP Ward 3 Chairman, expressing satisfaction and stating that the judgment had exposed impostors from the ward who falsely claimed to be members of the Labour Party.
He further praised the Labour Party and the Obedient Movement for their unwavering support during the orchestrated crisis within the party.
Ehiguese declared, “The judgment unequivocally affirms Barrister Julius Abure as the national Chairman until the party convention next year. Our determination to regain the Nigerian masses’ mandate freely given to Mr. Peter Obi and the party in the last presidential election remains unshaken.”
The Edo State Labour Party Chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, echoed this sentiment, stating that the party had been vindicated by the court’s decision. Ogbaloi characterized Apapa and his faction as “tragic power seekers” and emphasized that Apapa, being a former deputy national chairman and a custodian of the party’s constitution, was well aware that the suspension of the national chairman was not legally sanctioned.
Recognizing this, Apapa resorted to seeking an ex-parte motion to restrain Abure, but the court has now made it clear that such a charade would not be entertained.
In response to the ruling, Abayomi Arabambi, the spokesperson for the Lamidi Apapa-led faction, disclosed plans to hold a press conference addressing the court’s decision.
However, as of now, no further statements have been made by the faction.
