The Labour Party has commended the ruling issued by the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division, on July 2, 2026, describing it as a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of its recognized national leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman to initiate and manage legal proceedings on behalf of the party.
This ruling was delivered in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Others v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Others, which addresses a pre-election dispute arising from earlier proceedings at the Federal High Court.
According to a statement released on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the appeal had been filed in the name of the Labour Party without the knowledge, consent, or authorization of the party’s recognized national leadership.
The statement further explained that upon discovering the appeal, the National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, Esq., instructed Mr. C. Okoroafor through a formal letter dated June 22, 2026, to represent the party and take the necessary steps to withdraw the case.
During the proceedings at the Court of Appeal, two different attorneys appeared on behalf of the Labour Party, prompting the court to request documentary evidence confirming their authority to represent the party.
While Mrs. A. Oteh, who initiated the appeal, presented a letter allegedly issued by Mr. C. K. Igara, who claimed to be the Labour Party’s South-East Vice Chairman, Mr. Okoroafor relied on a formal authorization letter from the National Legal Adviser representing the party’s recognized national leadership.
After reviewing the documents, the appellate court acknowledged the authority granted through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as the legitimate representation of the Labour Party.
As a result, Mrs. Oteh withdrew both her representation for the party and the counter-affidavit previously submitted against the application for the withdrawal of the appeal. The court subsequently rejected the appeal and imposed costs of N100,000 against the counsel who acted under the alleged authority of Mr. Igara.
In response to the ruling, the Labour Party stated that the decision reinforces the legal principle that only the officially recognized national leadership of the party, through authorized representatives, has the right to engage legal counsel and to initiate, defend, or maintain legal actions in the name of the party.
The party further asserted that the ruling effectively reaffirmed Senator Nenadi Usman’s leadership as the legitimate and legally recognized authority of the Labour Party.
Additionally, it pledged to persist in contesting what it termed as efforts by unauthorized individuals, including Barrister Julius Abure and Mr. C. K. Igara, to represent the party or conduct legal proceedings on its behalf without proper authority.
Reiterating its dedication to democratic principles, the Labour Party committed to upholding the rule of law, constitutional order, internal party discipline, respect for judicial decisions, and the safeguarding of its corporate identity and institutional integrity.
