Appeal Court Confirms Nenadi Usman as Labour Party Leader

On January 21, 2026, the Appeal Court in Abuja dismissed Julius Abure's appeal challenging the leadership of the Labour Party, affirming Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader. The three-member panel, led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, upheld a previous ruling by the Federal High Court, which had recognized Usman as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

The court noted that the Supreme Court had settled the leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, by nullifying a convention that purportedly reinstated Abure. The Appeal Court agreed with the trial court's assertion that INEC must recognize Usman as the party's leader.

The court criticized Abure for abusing the court process by pursuing the matter in multiple jurisdictions despite the Supreme Court's clear ruling. Consequently, the court dismissed Abure's appeal as devoid of merit and imposed a cost of ten million naira against him for wasting judicial time.