Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

Giving judgement on Tuesday affirming Mr Abure as the party chairman, Justice Nwite also ordered the electoral body to recognise the party national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, in March 2024.

Recall that INEC failed to recognise Mr Abure as the party chairman, insisting that his re-election at the convention violated Nigeria’s Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The electoral body then excluded his faction from its refresher training to update party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections.

In his response, Mr Abure filed a counter-affidavit against INEC for the exclusion and accused his party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and the Abia State Governor Alex Otti, of betrayal. But INEC prayed the court to throw out the suit as the party was not entitled to the reliefs being sought.

In May, a Federal Capital Territory High Court barred Mr Abure, the National Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu and the Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as national officers of the party.