The Labour Party has commended the ruling issued by the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division, on July 2, 2026, describing it as a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of its recognized national leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman to initiate and manage legal proceedings on behalf of the party.
This ruling was delivered in Appeal No. CA/OW/104/2026: Labour Party & 14 Others v. Abia State Independent Electoral Commission & 4 Others, which addresses a pre-election dispute arising from earlier proceedings at the Federal High Court.
According to a statement released on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the appeal had been filed in the name of the Labour Party without the knowledge, consent, or authorization of the party’s recognized national leadership.
The statement further explained that upon discovering the appeal, the National Legal Adviser, Mrs. Taiwo Mary Ajayi, Esq., instructed Mr. C. Okoroafor through a formal letter dated June 22, 2026, to represent the party and take the necessary steps to withdraw the case.
During the proceedings at the Court of Appeal, two different attorneys appeared on behalf of the Labour Party, prompting the court to request documentary evidence confirming their authority to represent the party.
While Mrs. A. Oteh, who initiated the appeal, presented a letter allegedly issued by Mr. C. K. Igara, who claimed to be the Labour Party’s South-East Vice Chairman, Mr. Okoroafor relied on a formal authorization letter from the National Legal Adviser representing the party’s recognized national leadership.
After reviewing the documents, the
