A faction of the Labour Party loyal to the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reportedly obtained a court order halting the nationwide congresses planned by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee.
The injunction, said to have been issued by an Abia State High Court in Isiala Ngwa on November 26, was announced in a statement on Monday by the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Ife Salako.
According to the statement, the court, in Suit No. HIN/47/2025, restrained Abure “and his illegal National Working Committee” from going ahead with their “purported and unlawful ward, local government, and state congresses.”
It read in part, “The general public, particularly all Labour Party supporters across the country, is hereby notified that on 26th November, 2025, the High Court of Abia State sitting in Isiala Ngwa granted an interim order in Suit No: HIN/47/2025.
“The order, sought by Hon. (Sir) Emmanuel Nwaeze Otti, restrains Barr. Julius Abure and his illegal National Working Committee from proceeding with their purported and unlawful ward, local government, and state congresses.
“The Labour Party, therefore, urges its teeming members nationwide to completely disregard the so-called congresses being promoted by Julius Abure and his associates.
“These illegal exercises have already been declared null and void by a court of competent jurisdiction. As a law-abiding political party, we enjoin all our members to respect and comply with the court’s directive.
“The Labour Party congresses will commence soon, and members will be duly informed once the details are finalised.”
The faction further urged the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and prosecute anyone pushing ahead with “the illegitimate congresses, scheduled for December 2, 4, or 6,” and advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to steer clear of the exercise until notified of the authentic timetable.
But the Abure-led camp dismissed the claims, insisting the order had been grossly exaggerated.
But in a swift reaction, the Abure camp dismissed the injunction as a deliberate misrepresentation, insisting the interim order applies only to Abia State.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led NWC, Obiora Ifoh, reacting in a statement on Monday, accused the Otti faction of attempting to mislead Nigerians.
“They are misinforming Nigerians as usual. The interim order is only for Abia State. The leadership of the Labour Party has called on its members across the 35 states of the federation, with the exception of Abia state, to troop out en masse and elect their leadership in all wards, Local Government Areas and state chapters,” he said.
Ifoh added, “No court in Nigeria has ordered the cancellation of the congresses by our party.
“Rather, a group of dissidents working for some suspended and expelled members of our party went forum shopping and succeeded in getting a rural court in Abia State to stop our congresses in the state.”
He accused the opposing camp of panic following INEC’s recognition of Abure, saying, “They are portraying the obvious signs of the last kick of a dying horse. A few days ago, on realising that the train was leaving them behind, they shamelessly rushed to INEC to submit the outcome of their July illegal meeting in November.”
He also maintained that the Supreme Court had already validated Abure’s leadership.
The latest legal tussle comes amid an intensifying battle for the soul of the crisis-ridden Labour Party.
Just three days earlier, the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Interim National Working Committee forwarded a fresh 34-man list of its own NWC to INEC, escalating the leadership dispute.
The list, signed by Usman and Interim National Secretary Senator Darlington Nwokocha, was sent to INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan on Friday.
The party now faces yet another round of court battles, political brinkmanship and competing claims to legitimacy — with no sign of the crisis abating soon.
