In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has nullified the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which upheld Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Delivering its verdict on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court unanimously agreed that the appellate court acted beyond its legal authority. The justices held that the matter of party leadership is an internal affair and therefore outside the jurisdiction of any court.
The Supreme Court underscored that the internal governance of political parties, including the appointment or recognition of party leaders, is not a matter for judicial intervention. By so doing, the apex court has reaffirmed the legal principle that courts should not meddle in the internal affairs of political parties.
The judgment followed an appeal brought by Senator Nenadi Usman and another party, which the court found to be meritorious. Consequently, the Court of Appeal’s ruling was overturned, effectively returning the leadership matter to the Labour Party’s internal mechanisms.
In a further setback to Abure’s camp, the Supreme Court also dismissed a cross-appeal filed by his faction, describing it as lacking merit.
This decision sets a significant precedent in Nigerian jurisprudence, reinforcing the autonomy of political parties in managing their leadership structures without court interference. Analysts expect the ruling to influence how similar disputes are handled in the future.
With the judgment now delivered, all eyes are on the Labour Party to see how it navigates its internal leadership challenges moving forward.
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