In a significant development resolving the prolonged leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP), a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the caretaker committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the legitimate authority representing the party.

The ruling, delivered on January 21, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, declared that the tenure of Julius Abure as National Chairman had expired, in line with a prior Supreme Court judgment from April 2025.

The court affirmed the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the only valid body to act for and on behalf of the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention.

The decision stems from ongoing factional disputes within the opposition party, which intensified after the 2023 general elections. Senator Usman was appointed as interim National Chairman in September 2024 to oversee the party’s affairs amid the turmoil.

Following the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman stated that INEC’s implementation of the court order would ensure only one Labour Party appears on the ballot in future elections, particularly ahead of the 2027 general polls. “With the recognition by INEC, it means only one party, which is my party, would be on the ballot,” Usman said in an interview.

“There is no ambiguity about who the leader is, and only we can write to INEC to attend our primary elections or congresses.

“The ruling has been described by supporters of the Usman faction as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and party stability. It directs INEC to treat all correspondence from Usman as valid and official, effectively sidelining the rival Abure faction.

The Abure-led group has reportedly indicated intentions to appeal the decision, maintaining their claim to the party’s leadership. However, the court dismissed arguments that the matter was purely an internal party affair.

This development is expected to streamline the Labour Party’s preparations for upcoming primaries, congresses, and the 2027 elections, potentially strengthening its position as a key opposition force. INEC is yet to issue a public statement confirming full compliance with the court directive, but stakeholders anticipate swift action to avoid further electoral complications.

Photo: APC NWC meeting

At its 183rd meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held on Friday, 30th January 2026, at the Party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, adopted the following resolutions:

1. The electronic membership registration exercise has been extended from 31st January 2026 to 8th February 2026, following requests from Party stakeholders.

This extension is to enable more supporters and members to register and validate their membership.

2. Ward Congresses will hold on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, while the National Convention is now scheduled to be held on 27th–28th March 2026.

Osun State , Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are excluded from scheduled Congresses due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded due to the subsisting tenure the current executive committees of the Party in the State. 

3. The National Convention Planning Committee was duly constituted.

Further details on the adjusted Congress and National Convention timetable and schedule of activities, and composition of the National Convention Planning Committee will be announced in due course.

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has declared null and void the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Convention held last year in Ibadan.

The suit, FHC/IB/CS/121/2025: PDP v. INEC & 6 Others, came up for judgment on Thursday, January 30, 2026, before Justice Uche Agomoh, who delivered the ruling in open court.

In his findings, Justice Agomoh held that the purported convention and all decisions reached at the gathering were illegal and amounted to nullities.

The court further ruled that the PDP caretaker committee remains the only lawful governing body of the party that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise and relate with in line with the law.

The presiding judge described the suit as a “brazen attempt” by the applicant to legitimise actions allegedly carried out in violation of subsisting court orders, stressing that the court would not allow such an attempt to stand.

He noted that the court could not sit on appeal over earlier judgments already in place, and consequently dismissed the application in its entirety.

Reacting to the judgment, Chief Ferdinand Oshioke Orbih, SAN, of the PDP caretaker committee, commended the ruling, describing it as a reaffirmation of the rule of law and respect for judicial authority.

Efforts by journalists to speak with counsel to INEC after the proceedings proved abortive, as the INEC lawyer declined to comment, saying that he was not interested in speaking with journalists.