The Labour Party on Thursday reaffirmed Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership as National Chairman following a Supreme Court judgement on April 4.

National Chairman Abure and National Secretary Alh. Umar Farouk Ibrahim, addressing reporters in Abuja, said the court upheld the party’s National Convention held on March 27 in Nnewi, Anambra State, which elected the current National Working Committee (NWC).

The Supreme Court stated that political parties must adhere to their constitutions and that leadership disputes are internal matters, not subject to judicial interference. “Political parties must learn to adhere to their constitution and guidelines in the conduct of their domestic affairs,” the court ruled, affirming that party members are bound by decisions of organs like the NWC, National Executive Committee (NEC), and National Convention.

Abure and Ibrahim urged Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi to respect the ruling and cease actions causing internal divisions. They noted that the court did not overturn CA/ABJ/1172/2024, which recognised Abure as National Chairman, and confirmed the party’s compliance with electoral laws and INEC regulations for the 2024 convention.

The party dismissed claims of a caretaker committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, stating no valid NEC meeting or stakeholder gathering occurred on 4 September 2024 in Abia State. It declared that no leadership vacuum exists and urged members to align with the NWC as affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The announcement follows weeks of factional disputes, with Abure’s group maintaining the party’s Abuja secretariat while the Usman-led caretaker committee awaits INEC’s interpretation of the judgement.

Delta state Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Delta joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to protect the state’s interest.

Addressing journalists at Government House, Asaba, Aniagwu, said the move was aimed at preserving unity, deepening development, and safeguarding the wellbeing of Deltans.

His words: “The decision was taken to build the bond of love that have existed in our state, to further advance the cause of security and welfare of our people and to a very large extent ensure that development in Delta, because every politics is local, is not truncated.

“And in taking that decision we came to the inevitable conclusion that moving out of the PDP is very very necessary for us to be able to collaborate with our kith and kin and build that state that every Deltan will be proud of.

The commissioner likened the current state of the PDP to palm wine that has lost its taste.

He said: “We believe that what is happening and the state of the PDP is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed and there was a need for us to change the drinking pattern.

“And that is why this decision has been taken unanimously by leaders and stakeholders of the party.

“By the grace of God, Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement after the fact that we are moving into the APC.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  Nyesom Wike and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma have hailed the defection of Delta state Governor, Sheriff goes and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa into the ruling APC. 

Wike gave the commendation in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka in Abuja on Wednesday.

Recall Okowa, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election on Wednesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa decamped alongside Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and other PDP stalwarts in the state, collapsing the entire PDP structures in the state to the APC.

Wike described the development as another endorsement of the president’s good governance and commitment to the development of the country.

He called on other Nigerians, who were still sitting on the fence to throw in their support for Tinubu.

According to him, Okowa and Oborevwori open endorsement of Tinubu is a vindication of the position I took in 2023, which was based on the interest of a united Nigeria.

“I commend Okowa and Gov. Oborevwori for this heart-warming decision, which must have been informed by good governance and commitment of President Bola Tinubu to the oneness and development of Nigeria.

“That is what I have always told people to come out and say, not to be running up and down when they have problems.

“They have come out at the right time to show support for Mr President so that the people of Niger Delta can benefit more from the government, and I commend them for it.

“I am particularly happy that what I saw before the 2023 presidential election, others are now seeing and are joining the “Renewed Hope train,” the minister said.