Nenadi Usman: Court of Appeal Ruling On Labour Party Leadership A Victory For Democracy
Senator Nenadi Usman describes the Court of Appeal ruling Labour Party leadership as a victory for democracy, rule of law, and justice.
Senator Nenadi Usman describes the Court of Appeal ruling Labour Party leadership as a victory for democracy, rule of law, and justice.
Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s ruling in her favour, describing it as a triumph for democracy, fairness, and the rule of law.
“I honestly was happy and grateful to Almighty God because I felt it was a victory for democracy, I felt it was a victory for the rule of law. I felt the right thing had been done. I felt it was all about justice, fairness,” she said.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, the lawmaker expressed appreciation to the judiciary for what she called a just decision, while also thanking Labour Party members and supporters across the country for their solidarity during the legal process.
“I must thank the judiciary for what they have done. Above all, I also want to thank members of the Labour Party who have been coming—some came from all over the country just to be in court for the ruling. I really appreciate them and, of course, Nigerians who have been calling to express solidarity, even those who are not members of the Labour Party. I’m sincerely very grateful. I do appreciate it.”
Senator Usman responded to concerns about public perception of the judiciary, cautioning against generalisations about judges. According to her, the judiciary, like any profession, contains both competent and less effective individuals, and urged against lumping all judicial officers together, while maintaining that most judges are doing their best and should continue to uphold integrity in their work.
“I wouldn’t stereotype, I wouldn’t put all into the same basket. I believe that in every profession in life, there are always the good people and there are always those who are not so good. But, you know, if you just lump everybody together and say everybody is bad or everybody is good, then there’s a problem there. So I think most judges are doing their best and I think we appreciate them. For those who are being questioned, then I would plead that they get their act right,” she admonished.
Speaking on the legal disputes within the Labour Party, Senator Usman described the multiple court cases filed across different jurisdictions as an abuse of court process, arguing that they were intended to destabilise the party rather than resolve a genuine legal issue.
“I think it was a case to destabilize the party where you see one person going to court at any given time, nothing less than eight different cases in eight different courts in eight different cities—eight different states—at any given time. So it’s really an abuse of court processes, and all seeking one relief. All these cases just to get one relief,” she noted.
She dismissed the claim that a significant faction of the Labour Party rejects her authority, pointing to a recent INEC verification exercise and ongoing party activities as evidence of legitimacy.
“I wouldn’t say a significant portion of the party doesn’t recognize my authority. Let me state categorically: today we had a verification exercise that INEC came to our office to look at what we’ve been doing. They asked several questions, wanted some documents—we did all that, it went very well. And I tell you, even some who were called chairmen under my predecessor’s tenure, they were there. They came. They were there at the office,” she refealed.
Adding, she including ward-level meetings in Kaduna State, and reaffirmed that her leadership is focused on rebuilding the party through structured processes.
“And tomorrow we are starting our congresses. My ward congress is tomorrow; I’m going to my ward, Jere South Ward of Kagarko Local Government Area in Kaduna State. I’ll be there tomorrow for the congress, and it’s going to culminate into the national convention on Tuesday. And we’ve invited them; they will come.
“As I said earlier, during the verification exercise, we’ve extended an olive branch. We just want to build the party. We don’t want anybody to perpetuate himself as a party chairman for life. I believe that leadership of any political institution, so long as it’s not a traditional institution where from the day you become a king you remain an Emir until death, every such office has a tenure. So you come, you go, but the party should remain,” she stressed.
She maintained that questions about division in the Labour Party would be resolved through ongoing congresses and the upcoming national convention, insisting that broad participation would demonstrate unity.
“I think the issue of legitimacy, acceptance—as I told you, we’re starting tomorrow. Congresses start tomorrow. By the time we go for the national convention, you will see who and who would attend. We’ve invited everybody. So if anyone decides to stay away because they believe that the Labour Party is all about one person—and without that person, they’d rather the party dies—then you see there’s a problem there,” Sen. Usman said.
Urging institution-building over individual loyalty, Sen. Usman said court rulings are aiding unity ahead of the Umuahia convention.
“So I think by the time we come together at the Umuahia convention on Tuesday, I believe you’re going to see a more unified Labour Party. Because almost everybody is beginning to ask: what is the name of this party? It’s the Labour Party. Is there any one particular name that is attached to the Labour Party? No, nobody’s name. Labour Party is Labour Party. So if you love the Labour Party, please let’s set all that aside. Particularly after yesterday’s judgment, most people feel it’s better we just come together. Even some chairmen that were not with me before, who felt they were sympathetic to my predecessor, they’ve come and we are moving on,she shared.
She expressed surprise at reports that the opposing side intends to proceed to the Supreme Court, describing the litigation cycle as repetitive and unnecessary.
“One of them was telling me today that they don’t even think he would go that far to the Supreme Court. So I was surprised when I came here and I was told there was a video clip saying he would go to the Supreme Court. Because the judgment was hinged on a Supreme Court judgment. As a fallout of that, a lower court hinged its decision on that; the Court of Appeal hinged… then you now go again back to the Supreme Court. You see, it’s just a circle. So I just wish he would bury the hatchet, sheathe his sword, pay the 10 million Naira imposed on him, and then he should come—let’s build the party,” she urged.
Senator Usman also noted concerns about excessive reliance on courts in resolving party disputes, suggesting that political parties should strengthen internal dispute-resolution mechanisms to handle conflicts before they escalate into litigation.
