Court ends Labour Party leadership crisis, CNPP reacts

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has hailed the judgment of the Federal High Court affirming Esther Nenadi Usman as the valid National Chairman of the Labour Party, describing the ruling as a “clear victory for constitutionalism, internal party democracy, and the supremacy of the rule of law.”

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the CNPP said the court’s order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee as the legitimate authority of the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention, represents a major boost for Nigeria’s democratic development.

According to the CNPP, the judgment—said to be firmly anchored on the binding decision of the Supreme Court—sends a strong signal that individual ambition, factional interests, or political manipulation cannot override party constitutions and established democratic procedures.

“The CNPP warmly welcomes and commends the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the valid National Chairman of the Labour Party and ordered INEC to recognise the Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee,” the statement read.

The group also praised the judiciary for what it described as courage and integrity in handling the matter, noting that the ruling stands out amid a challenging political climate.

“In an environment where undue influence and intimidation are often deployed to bend institutions to partisan interests, this judgment is a reassuring testament to judicial independence,” the CNPP stated.

Warning against disregard for court orders, the CNPP stressed that democracy cannot thrive where judicial pronouncements are treated with contempt or selectively obeyed, or where party constitutions are trivialised for personal control.

The organisation said the Labour Party leadership crisis, now resolved by the courts, should serve as a lesson to all political actors that impunity is incompatible with democratic governance.

The CNPP further called on political parties and leaders nationwide to recommit to democratic principles, urging them to respect internal organs, uphold collective decisions, and place party supremacy above individual ambitions.

On implementation, the CNPP urged INEC and other relevant authorities to give immediate and unambiguous effect to the judgment, warning that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system depends on faithful and timely compliance with court orders.

The group congratulated Senator Nenadi Usman and members of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, urging them to discharge their mandate with restraint, inclusiveness, and strict adherence to the party constitution as they work towards a credible and unifying national convention.