*Embattled leader Urges Unity, Forgiveness, Healing
A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, October 8, declared Julius Abure as the substantive National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, affirmed the Abure-led national leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi Convention that produced is as national leadership of the LP and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, thereby overriding INEC’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid.
Recall that INEC had argued that the LP’s national convention, which was conducted, violated the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act, and that the party failed to meet legal requirements for holding the convention.
It said Abure was no longer the national chairman of the party, stating that his tenure expired in June this year.
In his reaction to the judgment, the embattled national chairman, in a statement, expressed deep gratitude to God, the judiciary and party faithful for standing firm through a challenging period.
He commended the courage of Justices Nwite, Omotosho and C. K. Nwankwo for their integrity in resisting external pressures and delivering fair judgments that upheld justice and democracy.
Abure said despite the intense opposition and character assassination he faced, he had forgiven those who sought to undermine his leadership, calling for reflection, repentance and restitution, even as he stressed the need for party unity and reconciliation to strengthen the party for the future.
He called on the party’s candidate in last year’s presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, to join him in the effort to heal divisions and rebuild the party from within, harping on the importance of restructuring, reconnecting with the grassroots and focusing on the collective good of the Nigerian people.
