LP Leadership: Supreme Court Cannot Overrule Itself, Says Usman

THE National Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP), Nenadi Usman, has expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would not overrule itself, but maintain its earlier position on the leadership crisis that bedevilled the party.
Reacting to renewed controversy surrounding the circulation of nomination forms allegedly the party’s former national chairman, Julius Abure, ahead of the next year’s general elections, Usman stressed the leadership that emerged from the Umuahia national convention remained the authentic structure recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a court ruling that declared Abure’s tenure had expired.
The former senator explained that following the judgment, the party held a national convention in Umuahia, where new leaders were elected, in the presence of INEC officials, adding: “It was a big surprise, because the court had said his tenure was over, we then went to Umuahia, had a national convention and new leaders were elected. INEC was there and recognised what we did.”
She described the distribution of nomination forms by the Abure camp as illegal and deceiving unsuspecting aspirants into purchasing unauthorised forms, disclosing that the party had already petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Department of State Services (DSS), while INEC had also been copied in the complaints.
Usman stated: “One man came here to tell me his wife is contesting the election, and when I looked at the form, it was not the form that we issued.
“They are deceiving people and it is not right at all.”
She said that LP remained strong, despite its past leadership challenges, pointing to the growing number of aspirants seeking to contest on its ticket.
The former minister disclosed that LP had resolved to zone its presidential ticket to the South, thereby naturally limiting participation from northern aspirants, adding that three aspirants had already purchased its presidential nomination forms.
She assured that the party’s primaries would be transparent and credible.