This medium is in receipt of the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that delivered a landmark judgment affirming Senator Nenadi Esther Usman as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Justice Peter O. Lifu (JP), presiding over Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2262/2025, ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must recognize Usman’s leadership.
Lifu also ordered INEC to treat all correspondence from her as the only valid authority representing the Labour Party until congresses and a national convention are held to elect substantive executives.
The Case
- Plaintiff: Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, Chairman of the Labour Party’s National Caretaker Committee.
- Defendants: INEC, Barrister Julius Abure (former National Chairman), Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim (National Secretary), and the Labour Party.
- Issue: Whether INEC is bound to recognize Usman’s caretaker leadership ratified by the Labour Party NEC on July 18, 2025, following the Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 judgment (SC/CV/56/2025).
Judgment Highlights
- The Court answered all questions raised by the Plaintiff in the affirmative.
- Justice Lifu held that the ratification and inauguration of Usman and her committee members is an internal affair of the Labour Party, consistent with the Supreme Court’s earlier pronouncement.
- INEC was ordered to:
- Recognize Usman as Caretaker Chairman.
- Receive and treat all correspondence from her as the valid authority of the Labour Party.
- The Court made no order as to cost.
Legal Reasoning
Justice Lifu emphasized that political parties are voluntary associations with the right to choose their leadership.
He noted that upon the expiration of Julius Abure’s tenure, a vacuum was created, and the Labour Party NEC acted within its discretion to inaugurate a caretaker committee.
The Court dismissed objections raised by the Defendants on jurisdiction, locus standi, and abuse of process.
It ruled that the case was anchored on the Supreme Court’s decision and aimed at giving effect to it.
Appearances
- For Plaintiff: George Ibrahim, SAN, with I.P. Nwaogu, O. Efobi, and E. Audu.
- For INEC: O.A. Adeyemi with M.T. Abubakar.
- For 2nd & 3rd Defendants: Ibrahim Idris, SAN, with Kaura Perzini, O.V. Akowei, and Nuhu Mohammed.
- For Labour Party: Kehinde Edun with P. Ledee.
- For 5th Defendant (NLC): Marshall Abubakar with T. Ekundayo.
Implications
This judgment solidifies Senator Usman’s authority as Labour Party’s caretaker leader, compelling INEC to recognize her role until a convention elects new executives.
It also underscores the judiciary’s position that internal party leadership decisions, once ratified, must be respected by external bodies like INEC.
The ruling is expected to reshape Labour Party’s internal dynamics, especially amid ongoing factional disputes, and could influence preparations for upcoming elections.
See copies of the court judgement below:
