Senator Neda Imasuen (LP–Edo South) said the numerous leadership litigations had weakened the Labour Party(LP) and left it without a clear direction.

Mr Imasuen said this during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel on Saturday in Benin.

The senator expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s decision to remove the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party.

He, however, said the constant legal battles had nearly destroyed the party, resulting in a significant loss of members and public trust.

“They’ve been dragging the party in and out of court. Now that the Supreme Court has finally sealed it, it’s a welcome development,” he said.

He expressed concern about whether the ruling could restore the party’s strength and unity.

“But the question for me—and for all of us—is, where do we go from here? I just hope it’s not too late because the Labour Party is almost decimated.

“Most of the members are gone. Will this judgment bring them back? I don’t know. Will it energise those still in the party? Again, I don’t know. Only time will tell,” he added.

However, Mr Imasuen also expressed mixed feelings about the party’s trajectory, citing internal instability and a lack of sincere leadership.

He voiced frustration with individuals who, in his view, dragged the party in and out of court without genuine concern for its well-being.

The senator condemned their actions, arguing that such behaviour undermined the party’s long-term interests, especially in an already volatile political environment.

Mr Imasuen criticised the leadership of Mr Abure, stating that the party deteriorated under his watch.

He argued that Mr Abure failed to uphold the core values and goals of the LP, leading to disillusionment among members.

Describing the internal crisis, he lamented that the party had become unrecognisable, riddled with infighting and power struggles rather than focused on its primary mission.

“A lot has gone wrong in the Labour Party, and it’s very unfortunate. Abure, who was chairman at the time, in my opinion, really didn’t have the party at heart.

“The party became something that didn’t matter to them. It was more about fighting and tearing the party apart than preserving it. That’s not what I expected from someone in leadership,” the senator said.

When asked about his political future, Mr Imasuen declined to confirm whether he would seek reelection in 2027.

He said he would evaluate all options before committing to any political platform, including LP or APC.

The Supreme Court, through a five-member panel, ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to declare Abure as LP’s national chairman.

According to the apex court, leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters and should not have been decided by the appellate court, thereby setting aside the previous rulings.

(NAN)