How the Supreme Court's Decision to Overhaul LP Leadership Impacts Nigerian Politics

Following the Supreme Court's decision to remove Julius Abure as the party's National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, one of the party leaders, assumed leadership of the Labour Party, giving the party's leadership crisis a new dimension.

A five-member Supreme Court panel recently overturned the Abuja Court of Appeal's ruling that acknowledged Abure as the party's national chairman.

However, at a news conference on Wednesday, Apapa proclaimed himself the party's leader, citing the latest ruling by the supreme court as justification.

According to Apapa, every ruling made by the court since April 2023 has revoked all of Abure's decisions and acts.

Apapa stated that the party's National Working Committee as of 2022 will convene on Monday, April 14, 2025, in a statement signed by Deputy National Chairman of the NLC, Mr. Ladi Iliya; Deputy National Chairman of the TUC, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi; National Secretary, Alh Umar Farouq Ibrahim; National Legal Adviser, Bar Oyelekan Akingbade; National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi; and National Treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Opara.

"All actions and decisions taken by Julius Abure since 4th April 2023 are null and void following the dismissal of the cross-appeal filed by the ousted former National Chairman Bar Julius Abure, also by the Supreme Court on 4th April 2025," the statement said.

"With effect from today, Wednesday, the 9th day of April 2025, in an acting capacity, I, ALH BASHIRU LAMIDI APAPA, the most senior deputy national, and in accordance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party, and Alh Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary, in accordance with the Supreme Court's decision to set aside all judgments that recognize the leadership of Julius Abure as National Chairman," he said.

"The National Working Committee of our party as of 2022 will meet next week, Monday, April 14, 2025, to announce our plans, which will include zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South," my leadership is calling on all Labour Party members.

Apapa pledged that his leadership will act swiftly to bring the party's dormant Board of Trustees back to life and restore its functionality.