Party leadership clarifies timeline, constitutional processes, and court positions amid rising misinformation and internal disputes.

The Labour Party has clarified that the tenure of its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, remains valid until 2028, dismissing claims that his leadership has expired as misleading and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Monday, the party said conflicting narratives circulating in the public space have wrongly interpreted constitutional provisions and court proceedings relating to its leadership. While acknowledging that aspects of the dispute are before the Court of Appeal, the party stressed that pending litigation does not invalidate established constitutional facts.

According to the clarification, the leadership transition followed the death of former National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, in December 2020. In line with the party’s constitution, the National Working Committee appointed Maria Lebeke, a Deputy National Chairman, as Acting National Chairman on 31 December 2020.

Lebeke served in that role for three months before convening a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to fill the vacancy. At the NEC meeting held on 29 March 2021, Barrister Julius Abure was unanimously elected to complete the tenure of the late chairman, which was due to expire in June 2023.

The party further explained that before the expiration of that tenure, an NEC meeting was held in Asaba in April 2023. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peter Obi, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), resolved to extend the tenure of the existing national leadership by one year.

Before the end of the extended tenure in June 2024, the Labour Party held a National Convention on 27 March 2024 in Nnewi, Anambra State, where the current national leadership was elected. The party said the outcome of the convention means Abure’s tenure is expected to run until 2028.

Addressing claims linked to court rulings, the Labour Party noted that the Supreme Court did not rule on the validity of the Nnewi convention or on the tenure of the national chairman. It said the apex court only held that leadership disputes within political parties are internal affairs over which courts lack jurisdiction.

The party maintained that no court has set aside the Nnewi convention or declared Abure’s tenure expired, adding that only the party’s recognized organs—the National Working Committee, National Executive Council, and National Convention—have the authority to decide on leadership matters.

The clarification was signed by Hon. Amb. AJU Elumelu-James, Special Adviser to the National Labour Party Chairman on Media and Strategic Communications.