Be Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
The Labour Party in Bayelsa State has dismissed reports claiming that a State High Court in Yenagoa delivered a judgment on its leadership crisis, describing the information as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s State Legal Adviser, Barr. Kikanwa Linda Enu Timipre, said no such case was ever filed before the Bayelsa State High Court. She stressed that claims of a court ruling on the party’s internal dispute were “totally fake” and challenged those behind the reports to present proof.
“There was no action filed in the Bayelsa State High Court by any individual or group concerning the Labour Party leadership dispute,” she said. “I challenge anyone making such claims to provide verifiable evidence.”
The controversy arose from a publication alleging that the Yenagoa High Court had dismissed a suit filed by some state chairmen loyal to the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, who emerged from the Nnewi Convention of March 27, 2024.
The report also claimed that the alleged dismissal was in line with a Supreme Court judgment said to have removed Abure from office and declared his tenure expired. It further suggested that the court affirmed the Interim National Caretaker Committee led by Nenadi Esther Usman.
However, Barr. Timipre described the claims as baseless, insisting that the Supreme Court had already clarified that leadership issues within political parties are internal matters.
“My attention has been drawn to a press release by an unnamed person, presumably from the Nenadi Usman group or enemies of the party,” she said. “These claims are false and intended to mislead the public.”
She clarified that while a separate case was filed at the Federal High Court in Bayelsa, it was later withdrawn after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) addressed the concerns raised.
“The suit was withdrawn after INEC responded in a letter dated February 16, 2026, resolving the issues raised. The court subsequently struck out the matter without cost,” she added.
The party urged the public to disregard the purported court ruling, maintaining that it was a fabrication aimed at causing confusion within its ranks.
