Despite Court Order, Abure’s Camp Holds Labour Party Congresses

The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) proceeded with its nationwide ward congresses on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, despite deep internal divisions and legal challenges.

It was gathered that the only state exempted from the exercise was Abia State, in compliance with a subsisting injunction obtained by the rival faction led by Governor Alex Otti.

Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), confirmed that the exercise recorded an “impressive turnout and smooth conduct” across the country, with supervision teams returning positive reports.

“The ward Congress holds today Tuesday, while the Local Government Congress will hold Thursday.

“The State Congress is expected to hold on Saturday December 6 at the party headquarters across the states,” Ifoh stated

​Ifoh emphasized that the decision to democratize party leadership structures was finalized at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on November 28, 2025, which was attended by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He explained that though the party had decided to comply “even though the court lacks the jurisdiction,” its legal department “has already taken steps to vacate the order,” after which Abia would conduct its own congress.

He said: “Labour Party is therefore calling on Nigerians to embrace the party ahead of the 2027 general election. We are repositioning to improve on our capacity to drive the leadership of this great nation soonest.”

The spokesman also warned internal detractors and accused unnamed actors of sponsoring chaos within the party.

“We are not unmindful of the activities of the fifth columnists planted in the party to create unnecessary friction and to destabilize the unity in the party,” he said,

Ifoh added that some had “repented” while others continued to “play out the script of their paymasters.”

Citing Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act, Ifoh accused the other faction of circulating falsehood about a nationwide stoppage of the congresses.

“Publishing a fake news that a court has cancelled the Labour Party Congresses nationwide is a crime and can attract dire consequences.

“We therefore warn these merchants of falsehood to desist from such shenanigans or we will have no option but to commit them to prison,” he warned.

He maintained that the Abure leadership “is determined to move the party forward” and has taken “the painful decision to move on, leaving behind anyone not willing to meet up with the pace.”

A court order, granted on November 26 by an Abia State High Court in Suit No. HIN/47/2025, had halted the Abure nationwide congress.

This was announced by the Alex Otti faction’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Ife Salako.

According to the statement, the order restrained Abure “and his illegal National Working Committee” from proceeding with “purported and unlawful ward, local government, and state congresses.”

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