In the case of Mr. Lucky Shaibu v. Julius Abure & 5 ORS (Appeal No: CA/B/93/2023), His Lordships, Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji Abadua JCA, Fatima Omoro Akinbami JCA and Hon. Justice Sybil O. Nwaka-Gbagi JCA, in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal of the appellant, it will be recalled that one Lucky Shuaibu, who claimed to be a member of the LP in the Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East local government area of Edo State suspended the chairman of LP.
In his lead judgment, Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji affirmed the decision of the High Court of Edo State and held that one man cannot suspend the national chairman of LP, in line with Articles 13 and 17 of the constitution of the party, and the extant Electoral Act of 2022, particularly when the appellant had been described by the party as unknown.
The court unanimously nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension.
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In a swift reaction to the judgment, Abure eulogised the judgment and team of justices who refused to close their eyes to the justice of the case. He also thanked the team of selfless lawyers led by GC Igbokwe, SAN.
Abure added, “I thank the Obidient Movement who tarried with me and Mr Peter Obi while the impostor, Mr. Lamidi Apapa, and his adherents who tried to trade off the mandate freely given to the Labour Party with billions of Naira expended by his paymasters in the opposition parties”.
The counsel to Abure, Igbokwe applauded the judgment, describing it as sound, courageous and unimpeachable, and reinstated that Abure remains the national chairman of the LP, until the party convention holds.
President Aigbokhan Esq, the lead counsel to the LP, said the decision of the Court of Appeal has given rest to the battle for the soul of the party.
According to him, “It is a landmark judgment that will stand the test of time. Anybody still associating with impostors parading themselves as factional leaders of the party does so at their own peril. Political parties must remain the watchdog of national conscience.
