A Federal Capital Territory High Court has declined to lift an interim order restraining Mr Julius Abure, the national chairman of the Labour Party, and other national officers of the party from parading themselves as leaders. Justice Hamza Muazu fixed April 20, 2023, to take all applications in respect of the case.
Alex Ejesieme, the counsel to Abure, had prayed the court to vacate the interim order and restore sanity after the Labour Party national secretariat was taken over by another faction. The counsel argued that the division in the party following the interim order had worsened to the point that four groups in the Imo State chapter of the Labour Party held parallel primaries.
However, the court ordered all parties in the suit to ensure the speedy filing of their processes for a prompt hearing of the case. The court refused to vacate the interim order, which had suspended the national chairman, Mr Julius Abure, the national secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, and two others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
The Labour Party is currently embroiled in a leadership tussle, which has led to factions in several state chapters. The interim order was issued to prevent a further escalation of the crisis.
The counsel of the embattled national officers of the party had urged the court to hear the case speedily. However, Justice Muazu insisted on proper filing of processes to avoid any miscarriage of justice
The Labour Party has been facing internal leadership crises in recent times, which has resulted in factions within the party. The court’s decision to maintain the suspension of Abure and other national officers of the party has implications for the party’s future leadership and could affect its chances in future elections