A High Court sitting in Ukwa, Abia State, has confirmed Emmanuel Otti as the valid Chairman of the Labour Party in the state, putting an end to the leadership dispute that had divided the party for months.
The legal battle, which caused tension among party members, centred around who had the right to lead the Labour Party in Abia.
The case came before the court after G.O. Ndubueze laid claim to the position and challenged Otti’s leadership.
In its judgment, the court barred Ndubueze from presenting himself as the party chairman or interfering in any Labour Party matters within Abia State.
The court also rejected a suspension earlier placed on Otti by a faction of the party led by Julius Abure. It stated that the suspension had no legal standing.
According to the court, the version of the party constitution used to justify Otti’s removal was not recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), making the move invalid.
This ruling comes after months of internal conflict within the Abia State chapter of the Labour Party, with the two sides each claiming to be in charge.
Otti has been aligned with the camp of Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, while Ndubueze has remained loyal to the national leadership under Julius Abure.
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