The leadership crisis within the Labor Party escalated on Saturday when a 29-member caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Ousmane demanded that Julius Habre stop identifying himself as the party’s national chairman.
The committee, established by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 Labor presidential candidate Peter Obi, insists it remains the party’s legitimate leadership body.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Senator Usman declared that party officials empowered the committee during an emergency party meeting. She also criticized Habre’s insistence on holding the chairmanship despite a recent court ruling.
Naija News reports that the dispute arose following the Court of Appeal judgment handed down in Abuja on Friday, confirming Mr. Abre as the party’s national chairman.
The Court of Appeal has upheld and declared valid the Labor Party’s national conference to be held in March 2024 in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Judge Hamma Barka, who presided over the three-member commission, ruled that the party’s leadership issue was illegitimate and deemed any action outside the court’s jurisdiction null and void.
The judgment annulled an earlier Federal High Court judgment handed down by Justice Emeka Nwite on October 8, 2024.
Interim committee rejects ruling
Despite the Court of Appeal’s verdict, the interim committee criticized the judgment in a joint statement by Senator Usman and National Secretary Darlington Nwokocha.
They argued that the Federal High Court made serious errors, lacked jurisdiction and violated their right to a fair hearing.
The statement read: “As the duly recognized Chairman of the National Management Committee and Secretary of the Labor Party, on behalf of ourselves and other members, it is necessary for us to issue this press release in order to clarify and set the record straight. I think there is.
“The Court of Appeal has confirmed that the case number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024 filed by Mr. Julius Habre with the Federal High Court concerns a leadership dispute over which the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction.
“The Federal High Court erred in hearing the leadership dispute brought by Mr. Julius Habre and acted without jurisdiction. It also failed to take into account the company’s counter-affidavit in opposition to the lawsuit. , our right to a fair hearing was also violated.
“Finally, I would like to remind the public that on 4 September 2024, the Labor Party established the National Management Committee and appointed us as National Chairman and Secretary. He deserves the praise of all stakeholders and party members.”
