“The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has dismissed a suit instituted by state chairmen, Eneyi Zidougha aligned with Julius Abure, who sought to challenge their dissolution by the Labour Party’s national leadership under Nenadi Esther Usman.
In a decisive ruling, the court held that the application lacked both merit and jurisdiction, effectively shutting down the legal challenge mounted by the Abure-backed state executives.
The judgement marks a critical turning point in the protracted leadership tussle that has rocked the Labour Party Nigeria in recent times.
The court’s decision follows the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on April 4, 2025, which removed Abure from office and declared his tenure as National Chairman expired.
That ruling had already altered the leadership structure within the party, paving the way for the emergence of a new national executive framework and also the interim leadership of the Party in Bayelsa State led by Dr. Zuonaki Ongodiebi.
In reaffirming the current leadership, the Bayelsa High Court observed that the national executives under Nenadi Usman stand on the side of legality, truth, and the broader interest of party stability and integrity.
The dismissal of the suit further reinforces the legitimacy of the decisions taken by the current leadership, including the dissolution of state chairmen perceived to be loyal to the former chairman.
This latest judicial announcement significantly strengthens the position of the Nenadi Usman-led leadership and weakens any remaining claims by faction loyal to Abure.
It also signals a consolidation of authority within the party’s national structure, as legal avenues to contest the leadership changes continue to narrow.
With this ruling, the Labour Party appears to be edging closer to resolving its internal crisis, as successive court decisions increasingly validate the current leadership and its actions aimed at repositioning the party.
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