By Charles Chijioke
ABUJA — The Labour Party has welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, declaring that the judgment further strengthens the legal position that only the party’s recognised national leadership headed by Senator Nenadi Usman has the authority to institute or maintain legal proceedings in the name of the party.
Afrilensnews reports that the appellate court delivered the judgment on July 2, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Ors. v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Ors., following a dispute over who had the legal authority to represent the Labour Party in court.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the Labour Party said the appeal stemmed from a pre-election matter after it discovered that an appeal had been filed in the party’s name without the knowledge, approval or authorisation of its recognised national leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman.
According to the statement, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, immediately instructed Mr. C. Okoroafor through a formal letter dated June 22, 2026, to represent the party and take the necessary legal steps to withdraw the appeal.
The statement explained that when the matter came up before the Court of Appeal, two different lawyers announced appearances on behalf of the Labour Party, prompting the court to demand documentary evidence showing who had the legal authority to represent the party.
It noted that while Mrs. A. Oteh, who initially filed the appeal, relied on a letter issued by Mr. C. K. Igara, who identified himself as the South-East Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Okoroafor tendered a formal letter of authority issued by the National Legal Adviser on behalf of the party’s recognised national leadership.
According to the Labour Party, after reviewing the documents presented before it, the Court of Appeal accepted the authority issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as the valid authorisation for the party.
The statement added that Mrs. Oteh subsequently withdrew both her appearance for the Labour Party and the counter-affidavit earlier filed against the application seeking to withdraw the appeal.
The court thereafter dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of ₦100,000 against counsel who acted on what the party described as the purported authority of Mr. C. K. Igara.
Reacting to the ruling, the Labour Party said the judgment was significant because it “once again reinforces the established legal principle that only the duly recognised National Leadership of the Party, acting through its authorised officers, possesses the legal competence to engage counsel and to commence, defend or sustain legal proceedings in the name of the Labour Party.”
The party further stated that the judgment “in effect reaffirmed the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman as the only authentic and valid leadership of the Party.”
The Labour Party also vowed to continue challenging what it described as attempts by unauthorised persons to act on behalf of the party.
“The Labour Party reiterates that it will continue to challenge every attempt by unauthorised persons, including Barr. Julius Abure and Mr. C. K. Igara, to hold themselves out as representatives of the Labour Party or to initiate, defend or maintain legal proceedings in its name without lawful authority,” the statement said.
The latest judgment is expected to further influence the lingering leadership dispute within the Labour Party and could strengthen the legal standing of the Nenadi Usman-led leadership in future litigation and party affairs, although the broader leadership tussle may still be determined by other pending court cases and internal political processes.
The statement stressed that the party remained committed to “the rule of law, constitutional order, internal party discipline, respect for judicial pronouncements, and the protection of its corporate identity and institutional integrity.”
