Contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media, approximately 1,630 delegates have converged on Awka, Anambra State, to elect the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 8 governorship election.

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Most of the accredited delegates were already in place Saturday evening, awaiting the commencement of voting.

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Initially, seven aspirants purchased the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms. However, by 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, only four remained in the race.

The remaining contenders include Hon. Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chief Valentine Ozigbo, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, and Hon. Edozie Madu.

According to official statements, three aspirants—Hon. Chukwuma Umoeji, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and Prof. Obiora Okonkwo—have withdrawn from the contest.

Earlier in the day, the Chairman of the Anambra Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, held a series of strategy meetings with sub-committees to ensure a smooth and transparent exercise.

A Saturday evening visit to the election venue at Dr. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre revealed a peaceful atmosphere, with delegates arriving in an orderly manner and security personnel strategically positioned across the area.

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The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo has won the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA governorship ticket for the State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.

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About 3,260 delegates voted at the Alex Ekweme Square, Awka on Saturday to return Soludo as the party’s flagbearer to contest for a second term of office.

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Soludo has no rival contested against him in Saturday’s primary election and he also retained his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim who is currently deputizing him as his running mate for the 2025 governorship election.
Announcing the results, the returning officer for the election, Uche Nwegbo, said the total delegates were 3,260, while 3,175 were accredited to vote and four votes were invalid

Nwegbo said, “Total delegates for this election is 3,260, 3,175 are accredited delegates, 3,172 is the total votes, while 0 4 votes were invalid.

“The total yes-votes garnered by the governor is 3,168, while there were no no-votes. So, in line with the INEC guidelines and with the powers conferred on me as the chief returning officer for this election, I, Uche Nwegbo, hereby declare the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as returned, as the candidate of our party.”
Soludo accepted the outcome of the primary election and thanked party members for their commitment to the party and the people of Anambra State.

He said, “We as a party have grown from strength to strength. We are the first registered progressive party in Nigeria, and our people have taken APGA as their own. Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra.

“I want to say that I am humbled by this historic display of solidarity to be able to raise the flag of our party again, and I want to say that I accept this nomination wholeheartedly.

“Anambra keeps rising with the progressive leadership that we have had through APGA, and I will continue to appreciate the leadership of the party.

“I appreciate the members of our party and the INEC observers. I do not think that we have ever had this kind of peaceful election where everything was orderly and in one hour everyone was able to cast their votes.

“In 2021, Anambra interviewed all the candidates and employed me, and all through the journey, three years down the line, you have been able to give us support. That is why we have been able to do what we do, which people say is magical. We are doing this without borrowing one Naira, and I know we will continue to do even more, and we continue to ask for your prayers.

“We are only at the introductory stage; Anambra has not seen anything yet. I appreciate the citizens and captains of industries who have been supporting us, and we will keep growing higher and higher.

“I appreciate the support groups, especially all that endorsed us for a second term. They are still coming up with more donations to the campaigns, and I thank those market women who are still eager to donate to our campaign. Many political parties have declared support for us, and never in Anambra State have we ever had a consensus like what we have today.

“When I took oath of office, I promised not to let Anambra down, not to let my supporters down, not to let my family down, and not to let APGA down. We are working 247 to ensure that. Many people have said we do not have any opposition, but I say that we will not only win all 21 local governments but also the 326 wards. Someone said we should even aim for all the polling units in the state. We want to make a statement.”

“In 2017, I gave a lecture which I titled ‘If it is not broken, why mend it’, and it became popular. Today, I want to say that I am re-nominating Dr Onyeka Ibezim as my deputy governorship candidate for the election. If it is not broken, why mend it? I want to say that the battle has only begun,” he added.

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In a landmark judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria nullified the recognition of Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), thereby altering the trajectory of the party’s leadership dynamics.

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This ruling has ignited a new phase in the internal crisis rocking the Labour Party, triggering a cascade of reactions from various stakeholders—including LP presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Nenadi Usman of the LP Caretaker Committee, and the factional LP spokesperson Obiora Ifoh.

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The five-member panel of the Supreme Court emphatically ruled that the Court of Appeal in Abuja lacked jurisdiction in the earlier decision that had upheld Abure’s leadership.

Consequently, the Supreme Court set aside the controversial Court of Appeal verdict and further invalidated the convention held in Anambra State that had ratified Abure’s re-election as the party’s national chairman.

This judgment has caused ripples within the Labour Party, with different factions interpreting and reacting to the verdict in contradictory ways. In this comprehensive blogpost, we will unpack the Supreme Court’s decision, examine the various reactions from party heavyweights, and consider the broader implications for the future of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Abure’s Supreme Court Sack: A Game-Changer

Delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025, the Supreme Court’s ruling marked a critical intervention in the protracted leadership tussle within the Labour Party. The apex court unanimously held that the Court of Appeal had no legal authority to interfere in internal party leadership matters, especially when the party constitution provides mechanisms for resolving such issues.

Key Points from the Judgment:

Jurisdiction Error by Court of Appeal: The Supreme Court declared that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to affirm Abure’s chairmanship, thereby rendering its decision null and void.

Expired Tenure of Abure: The court also observed that Abure’s tenure had expired before the matter came up for adjudication, hence he had no valid mandate to remain in office.

Anambra Convention Dismissed: The Supreme Court invalidated the convention held in Anambra State, where Abure’s re-election was purportedly ratified, describing it as a product of internal mismanagement.

The ruling, therefore, stripped Abure of any legal authority to function as the national chairman of the Labour Party, sending the party leadership into disarray.

Peter Obi’s Calm Reaction: “I Still Have Faith in the Courts”

Reacting to Abure’s Supreme Court sack, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections, reacted with remarkable calm and statesmanship. Speaking through Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson of the Obidient Movement, Obi reaffirmed his unwavering confidence in the Nigerian judicial system.

“No matter how judgments turn out, we still believe in the courts of our land. What matters now is peace, unity, and the progress of the Labour Party as we prepare for future national responsibilities,” Obi stated.

Rather than dwell on the legal technicalities or align with any of the warring factions, Peter Obi once again projected himself as a unifying figure, calling on all members of the Labour Party to focus on reforms, healing, and collective progress.

His neutral yet firm stance has been hailed by political observers who view him as the glue holding the fragile party together in turbulent times.

Nenadi Usman Welcomes the Verdict: “Victory for Democracy”

Reacting to Abure’s Supreme Court Sack, Senator Nenadi Usman, who leads the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, was more celebratory in her reaction. She applauded the April 4 judgment as a major victory for justice, democracy, and party accountability.

In a press statement released shortly after the ruling, she declared:

“This is a landmark victory for the rule of law. It signals the end of impunity and abuse of internal party processes. The Labour Party now has a unique opportunity to rebuild on the foundations of transparency and inclusivity.”

Usman also revealed that the Caretaker Committee will, in the coming days, announce a new timeline for the party’s national convention—one that will be supervised by INEC and open to all bona fide delegates.

Political insiders believe her faction is now poised to take full control of the party’s machinery, organize fresh elections, and restore internal order following months of tension and division.

Abure’s Supreme Court Sack: Obiora Ifoh Counters: “Abure Still in Charge”

In an unexpected move, Obiora Ifoh, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party and an ally of Julius Abure, disputed the interpretation that Abure was sacked by the Supreme Court.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Abuja, Ifoh insisted:

“The Supreme Court judgment did not sack the Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure. Rather, it rightly upheld the precedence of lower court decisions that recognize the Labour Party’s internal authority to appoint its leaders.”

He further claimed that the Supreme Court respected the autonomy of the Labour Party and reaffirmed the right of party structures to determine leadership.

This statement has generated considerable confusion, with many questioning whether Ifoh was trying to spin the judgment to retain political influence. Legal analysts, however, maintain that the Supreme Court’s ruling clearly invalidated the process that installed Abure, thereby ending his legitimacy as chairman.

Abure’s Supreme Court Sack: Silence and Absence Raises Eyebrows

While his allies are busy defending his leadership, Barrister Julius Abure himself has remained silent, reportedly mourning the death of his father-in-law. His absence at the press briefing and lack of personal statement have left party members and political observers speculating about his next move.

Is Abure planning to appeal or re-strategize for a comeback through internal negotiations? Or is this the end of the road for his leadership ambitions? Time will tell.

Peter Obi Mandate Group Reacts: “The Game Is Over,” Says Rev. Udochukwu

Adding his voice to the wave of reactions trailing the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court ruling, Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Udochukwu, the National Coordinator of the Peter Obi Mandate Group (POMAG), delivered a strong-worded message to Barrister Julius Abure and his loyalists. Speaking during a press interaction in Abuja, Rev. Udochukwu applauded the court’s verdict, describing it as the final nail in the coffin of illegitimacy.

He said:

“This landmark ruling by the Supreme Court clearly signals that the game is over for Julius Abure and his motley supporters. It’s time they allowed peace, order, and sanity to return to the Labour Party. We must refocus on playing our role as a vibrant opposition and begin preparing in earnest for the 2027 general elections.”

Rev. Udochukwu also called on all stakeholders within the Labour Party, especially the Obidient movement, to rise above petty factionalism and embrace the task of nation-building. He stressed that the party must now close ranks, rebuild public trust, and position itself as a credible and people-oriented alternative to the ruling class.

“The Peter Obi Mandate Group stands firmly with justice, due process, and internal party democracy. We believe that with this ruling, God has given Labour Party another chance to rebuild properly and move forward with a clear sense of mission,” he added.

Rev. Udochukwu’s remarks further underscore the growing pressure on Abure’s faction to accept the legal reality and withdraw from the party’s affairs, thereby creating room for reconciliation and institutional reform.

Legal Experts Clarify: “Supreme Court Verdict is Final”

Several constitutional lawyers have weighed in to clear the air regarding the Supreme Court ruling. According to Barrister Nkechi Okezie, a legal analyst based in Lagos:

“The Supreme Court is the final arbiter. Its decisions are not subject to further appeal. The ruling invalidated both the Court of Appeal judgment and Abure’s tenure, so there is no ambiguity. The Labour Party must now chart a new path.”

Okezie also noted that while internal party mechanisms can still appoint or elect leaders, any process going forward must adhere strictly to the party’s constitution and INEC guidelines.

Implications for the Labour Party’s Future

The April 4 judgment has far-reaching consequences for the Labour Party, especially as the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections. Here are some key takeaways:

1. A Leadership Vacuum

With Abure’s supreme court sack he is legally out of the picture, and the Caretaker Committee gaining recognition, the Labour Party must now urgently fill leadership gaps to stabilize the party.

2. Intensified Internal Power Struggles

The conflicting interpretations of the judgment indicate that the internal leadership crisis is far from over. More legal battles or factional clashes may be on the horizon if reconciliation efforts fail.

3. Peter Obi’s Mediatory Role

As the party’s most influential figure, Obi may be compelled to step in as a mediator, leveraging his moral authority to unite both camps and prevent further damage.

4. Public Trust and Electoral Credibility

The Labour Party’s credibility as a viable alternative to the dominant APC and PDP is at stake. Only transparency, reform, and genuine unity can restore public trust ahead of the next election cycle.

The Way Forward: Unity, Rebuilding, and Reform

If the Labour Party is to survive and thrive, this is a crucial moment of decision. With court-imposed restructuring now inevitable, the party must focus on:

Organizing a Transparent National Convention

Initiating Reconciliation Talks Between Factions

Re-Engaging the Obidient Movement at Grassroots Level

Establishing Legal and Structural Reforms

Clarifying Communication Channels and Party Statements

The Labour Party must also leverage this moment to refine its vision, policies, and strategy to position itself not just as a third force, but as a governing alternative come 2027.

Conclusion: A Turning Point in Nigeria’s Political History

The April 4, 2025 Supreme Court judgment is not just about Julius Abure. It is about party discipline, the sanctity of internal processes, and the role of the judiciary in upholding democracy.

Reactions from Peter Obi, Senator Nenadi Usman, and Obiora Ifoh reflect the fractures within the Labour Party, but also highlight the urgency for healing, rebuilding, and accountability. Whether the party rises from this stronger or splinters further will depend on the choices its leaders make in the days and weeks ahead.

As the nation watches, one thing is clear: the battle for the soul of the Labour Party is far from over—but the future is still in its hands.

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