Court of Appeal Affirms Nenadi Usman’s Leadership as Sole Authority for Labour Party Litigation
The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, has ruled that only the duly recognised national leadership of the Labour Party under Senator Nenadi Usman possesses the authority to initiate or sustain litigation in the party’s name.
Delivering judgment in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 others v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & four others, the appellate court dismissed an unauthorised appeal filed without the approval of the Usman‑led leadership. It further awarded costs of ₦100,000 against counsel who acted on the authority of Mr. Ceekay Igara, the party’s South‑East Vice Chairman, whose mandate was deemed invalid.
The court accepted the authorisation issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Ajayi, empowering Mr. C. Okoroafor to represent the party. This reaffirmed the principle that only the national leadership, acting through its authorised officers, can engage counsel or conduct proceedings on behalf of the Labour Party.
Reacting, LP National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, described the ruling as a significant affirmation of Senator Usman’s leadership, vowing to resist attempts by unauthorised persons, including Julius Abure and Ceekay Igara, to act in the party’s name.
According to him, the appeal arose from a pre-election dispute after the party discovered that an appeal had been filed in its name without the knowledge, approval or authorisation of its recognised national leadership.
Asogwa said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mrs Taiwo Ajayi, subsequently instructed Mr C. Okoroafor through a letter dated June 22, 2026, to represent the Labour Party and take the necessary steps to withdraw the appeal.
He explained that when the matter came up before the appellate court, two lawyers announced appearances for the Labour Party, prompting the court to demand documentary proof of their authority to represent the party.
The party noted that while Mrs A. Oteh relied on a letter from Mr Ceekay Igara, who claimed to be the party’s South-East Vice Chairman, Okoroafor presented a letter of authority issued by the national legal adviser on behalf of the recognised national leadership.
It also said the court accepted the authority issued through the Office of the National Legal Adviser as the valid authorisation, after which Oteh withdrew her appearance and the counter-affidavit she had filed in the matter.
The court subsequently dismissed the appeal and awarded N100,000 costs against counsel who acted on the authority of Igara.
”The party considers this decision significant, as it once again reinforces the established legal principle that only the duly recognised national leadership, 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.
”Also, the judgment in effect reaffirmed the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman as the only authentic and valid leadership of the Party. The party also vowed to continue resisting what it described as attempts by unauthorised persons to act on its behalf.
”The Labour Party reiterates that it will continue to challenge every attempt by unauthorised persons, including Julius Abure and Mr Ceekay 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,” Asogwa stated.
Meanwhile, the Abure faction, through spokesman Obiora Ifoh, expressed dissatisfaction and announced plans to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court, insisting that the issue of party leadership remains an internal affair and that the Nnewi convention which produced Abure’s leadership subsists until 2028.
The judgment adds another layer to the ongoing Labour Party leadership tussle, which has been the subject of multiple litigations across Nigeria’s courts.
