​The recent Court of Appeal ruling in Abuja was a massive blow to Abure, not just politically but financially. The three-member panel of justices unanimously dismissed Abure’s appeal, reinforcing the earlier Federal High Court decision that ordered INEC to recognize Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate leader of the party.
The court didn’t hold back, explicitly slamming Abure with a 10 million Naira fine for “wasting judicial time” and engaging in “forum shopping” (trying to get a favorable ruling from a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter the Supreme Court had already touched upon).
The appellate court agreed that setting up the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee was a valid “doctrine of necessity” to prevent a leadership vacuum within the party.
​True to form, Abure isn’t backing down. He has rejected the verdict and signaled his intention to take the battle all the way to the Supreme Court.
​Politically, he is also playing offense outside the courtroom. Just recently, he publicly pointed fingers at Abia State Governor Alex Otti, accusing him of being the driving force behind the party’s internal crisis, while simultaneously clearing the ruling APC of involvement to frame it strictly as an internal betrayal.
​With the 2027 general elections creeping closer on the horizon, this unending friction is highly damaging for the LP.
While the Usman faction moves forward with organizing state congresses and rebuilding party structures with the backing of key stakeholders (including Peter Obi’s camp), Abure’s parallel resistance threatens to leave the party heavily fractured. If the Supreme Court ultimately shuts the door on Abure, it might finally force a conclusion; but until then, the legal crossfire continues.
