Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South in the National Assembly, has voiced his approval of the Supreme Court’s judgment which led to the removal of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
In a statement made to journalists in Benin City on Saturday night, Senator Imasuen, a member of the Labour Party, described the apex court’s decision as a positive step forward for the party, which has been grappling with internal conflicts since the 2023 general election. He stated that the post-election events within the Labour Party were regrettable, asserting that Abure’s leadership had transformed the party into a personal affair rather than an institution serving its members.
“Sincerely, I welcome the Supreme Court judgement that sacked Barrister Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party. A lot has gone on in the Labour Party after the 2023 general election, and it is very unfortunate. Abure, who was the chairman at the time, in my opinion, really didn�t have the party at heart because it had become a personal thing,” Senator Imasuen said. He further criticized Abure for engaging the party in numerous legal battles, which he believes caused unnecessary distractions and further divided the party.
However, Senator Imasuen also expressed concerns about the Labour Party’s trajectory following Abure’s removal. He noted that a significant number of members had already departed, leaving the party in a weakened state. He questioned whether the Supreme Court’s ruling would be sufficient to revitalize the party and energize its remaining members.
“But the question for me and for all of us now is, where do we go from here? Someone spoke with me on the matter, and I said, I just hope that it�s not a little too late of what has just come up because the Labour Party is almost decimated. Most of the members have gone. Will this judgement bring them back? I don�t know. Will it energize those who are there now? Again, I don�t know. So, when it�s time, we�ll talk,” he stated.
When questioned about his own political future and whether he would consider joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) or remain with the Labour Party for the upcoming elections, Senator Imasuen remained noncommittal, hinting at uncertainty about his next move. “Why do you say APC? It�s a good question, but whatever decision or direction I take, you�ll be the first one,” he responded.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had previously recognized Abure as the Labour Party’s national chairman. In a unanimous verdict by a five-member panel, the Supreme Court held that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to make such a declaration, emphasizing that matters concerning party leadership are internal affairs that fall outside the purview of the judiciary.
