Peter Obi, Alex Otti Asks INEC To Recognize Nenadi Usman As Labour Party Chairman

Labour Party leaders, including Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, marched to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Their visit comes just days after the Supreme Court overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that had recognized Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.

The delegation, received by INEC National Commissioner Sam Olumekun, urged the electoral body to acknowledge Nenadi Usman as the rightful leader of the Labour Party, following the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The Supreme Court had ruled that the Appeal Court lacked the authority to declare Abure as chairman, as the matter revolved around the internal leadership of the party.

The ruling backed the appeal filed by Senator Esther Usman and another individual, stating the case against Abure’s leadership was valid, while dismissing the cross-appeal from Abure’s camp.

Speaking at the INEC headquarters, Governor Otti read aloud the certified true copy of the Supreme Court’s decision, delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro.

He said the judgment emphasized the importance of political parties following their constitutions when choosing their leaders, and advised party officials to step down once their tenures end to avoid internal disputes.

“Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both higher court and the court below recognize Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent and hereby set aside and suit number FXC is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction,” Otti said.

“In the same vein, the first respondent, that is labour party under Abure, being an offshoot of the same judgement of the court is hereby dismissed. Before I am done, may I admonish political parties and their members to endeavour to always abide by their constitutions, rules, regulations and guidelines to guide them in choosing their officers as well as candidates?

“That way, incessant internal risks which always find their way to court should be reduced. If the constitution of a political party has prescribed duration for tenure of office of an officer such as this one, such officer should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of the tenure.

“In the final analysis, I find this appeal to be meritorious and is hereby allowed. The party shall bear their respective cost, appeal allowed. This is signed by Honorable Justice John Inyang Okoro, Justice of the Supreme Court.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Peter Obi also denied reports suggesting that he’s leaving the Labour Party, stressing that he’s not going anywhere.