The Labour Party (LP) has welcomed a ruling by the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, affirming that only the party’s recognised national leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman has the legal authority to authorise litigation in the name of the party.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the LP described the July 2 judgment in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Ors. v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Ors. as a reaffirmation of the legal position on who can validly institute or maintain court proceedings on behalf of the party.
According to the statement, the appeal stemmed from a pre-election dispute after the party discovered that an appeal had been filed in its name without the knowledge or approval of its recognised national leadership.
The party said its National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, subsequently instructed counsel, Mr. C. Okoroafor, through a formal letter dated June 22, 2026, to represent the party and take steps to withdraw the appeal.
At the hearing, two lawyers appeared separately, each claiming to represent the Labour Party. The Court of Appeal directed both counsel to produce documentary evidence establishing their authority to act.
While one counsel relied on a letter allegedly issued by Mr. C. K. Igara, who identified himself as the party’s South-East Vice Chairman, the other presented a letter of authority issued by the Office of the National Legal Adviser on behalf of the party’s recognised national leadership.
After reviewing the documents, the court accepted the authority issued through the National Legal Adviser’s office as the valid authorisation to represent the Labour Party.
The party said the counsel who initially filed the appeal subsequently withdrew her appearance and the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the party. The court thereafter dismissed the appeal and awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the counsel who acted on the authority allegedly issued by Igara.
The Labour Party said the judgment reinforces the principle that only its duly recognised national leadership can engage lawyers or commence, defend or sustain legal proceedings in the party’s name.
It further maintained that the ruling effectively reaffirmed Senator Nenadi Usman’s leadership as the authentic leadership of the party.
The party also vowed to continue challenging what it described as attempts by unauthorised persons, including Julius Abure and Mr. C. K. Igara, to represent the party or institute legal proceedings on its behalf without lawful authority.
The statement added that the Labour Party remains committed to the rule of law, constitutional order, internal party discipline and respect for judicial decisions while safeguarding its institutional integrity.