Politics

Labour Party: Tribunal Rulings Against Our Lawmakers Unjust

The Labour Party, on Tuesday, expressed shock at the spate of judgments being churned out at the various national and state assembly tribunals, where several of its elected members at the National Assembly had been sacked.

In a statement by the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, he said the Labour Party at the last general election took Nigerians by surprise by rewriting the political narratives and ending the dominance of the two major political parties in Nigeria.

According to Abure, “LP became a household name with over 10 million members and supporters across the nation. However, this feat is regrettably being reversed by the pronouncements coming out from the various tribunals.

“We are worried because the reasons for reversing our victories are matters that have been settled by the superior courts in the past. It is even incomprehensible and ludicrous when different tribunals give conflicting and diverse judgements on the same matter, a matter that has since been ruled by the Supreme Court and very recently at the Presidential Election Petition Court in APC v Peter Obi.

“The courts have in a plethora of cases held that the court has no jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party.”

He explained that the issue of nomination of candidates as well as membership are internal affairs of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts, adding, “It is only a political party that can determine who its members are and who their flag bearer for an election should be.” 

Buttressing his points further, Abure said, In its judgment in SC/CV/501/2023,which was sighted for the Tribunal, the Supreme Court held that, “A political party that files a suit to challenge the nomination of the candidate of another party will be a nosy busybody, a meddlesome interloper, peeping into the affairs of his neighbour without any backing in law. No court of law can entertain such a suit.

“In the case of ARDO & ANOR v. NYAKO & ORS (2013) LPELR-CA/YL/15/2012 (CONSOLIDATED), the court of appeal, per Per DENTON-WEST, J.C.A., held that; ‘However it is a notorious principle of law that courts have no right whatsoever to descend into the internal affairs of political parties as to choose their candidates for them’ or decide the status of their membership.

“This position is more vividly expounded in the case of AGI v. PDP & ORS (2016) LPELR-SC.256/2016, where the Supreme Court held that; ‘… a party is supreme over its own affairs… A party is like a club. A voluntary association. It has its rules, regulations, guidelines, and Constitution…”

The LP national chairman said part of the rules and guidelines of the Labour Party was to accord membership to any Nigerian who so desires, and including by way of a waiver.

He said, “If you look at our guidelines, it is very clear that we can grant a waiver to people who are joining us during the election, and the Labour Party in observance of its own relevant rules and guidelines discharged its obligations by granting a waiver to as many as requested for it. So, it is our inalienable right under our own rules and we activated it to the fullest,” Abure stressed.

“The decisions of the tribunal against our elected lawmakers are clearly in contravention of established  jurisprudence. Where the leadership of a party regards a person as a member of the party eligible to contest the primaries, no member of the party can complain against such a decision.

“Such an issue is within the the domestic and internal affairs of the party over which the courts have no jurisdiction as such is not justiciable for our judicial system for lower courts to upturn a judgement already delivered by the Supreme Court. Though the tribunal is not the final court, we frown at the recklessness of our judicial officers in entering a judgement that looks suspicious.

“We are, therefore, calling the attention of the Nigeria Judicial Council to the injustice ongoing and to review the activities of some of our legal officers, who may have been compromised and found wanting in the discharge of their duties.

“Labour Party must be encouraged to widen the political space and end the one party system being vigorously pursued by the ruling party. Pushing the party under a moving trailer will not in any way help any one.”

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Follow us on:

AriseNews

View Comments

  • O91 5608 9111 }

    O91 5608 9111 }

    !!!!GREETINGS!!!it's legal approve by the federal government of Nigerian opportunity to get a car at minimum price
    Mama Africa #17,000 •Tomatoes Rice # *15,000* •Cap Rice #15,000 •My Food #17,000 •Mama Gold #17,500 •Ade Brazil #15,000 •Elephant Gold #15,000 •Royal Umbrella #15,000 Etc.
    priceE.G
    GOLF3= N400,000,, (DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    GOLF4= N500,000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA BIG DADDY= N500.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA MATRIX= N700,000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA SPIDER= N950k,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA MUSCLE #850,000 (DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA HIACE BUS= N900k,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA HILUX= N1m,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    HONDA EVIL SPIRIT= N600.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    DINNER TRUCK= N900k,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    HONDA ACCORD= N650.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA AVALON= N800.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA COROLLA= N550.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    COASTA BUS= N3.5M,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA VENZA N1,600,000 (DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    LEXUS IS250 1, 000,000.00(DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    LEXUS IS350 1.300,000.00(DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    LEXUS RX350= N2.,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    LEXUS RX330= N1m,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    LEXUS GL470 N2.5m,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    LEXUS ES330 #950,000 (DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    LEXUS ES350 1,300,000. (DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    RANGE ROVER SPORT 2M(DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    RANGE ROVER EVOGUE 3.0M (DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    MERCEDES BENZ GLK 2.8M(DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    MERCEDES BENZ ML350 #1.9M (DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    MERCEDES BENZ CLS 2M(DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    ACURA ZDX 1,300,000. (DEPEND ON THE MODEL)
    ACURA MDX 1.2M(DEPEND ON THE MODEL).
    TIPER= N3.5M,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA HIGHLANDER= N950.000,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA AVENSIS= N650.000,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA PRADO= N1.3m,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA SEINNA= N650.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    MERCEDES BENZ c300= N1.8m,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    NISSAN PATHFENDER= N850.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA RAV4= N700.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    HONDA PILOT= N850.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    RANGE ROVER= N3.M,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    LAND ROVER-JEEP= N1. 8M,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    TOYOTA PICNIC= N650.000,,(DEPENDS ON THE MODEL).
    AND A LOT OF CARS ARE AVAILABLE PLEASE CONTACT #No_O91 5608 9111 }

Recent Posts

Matt Gaetz To Exit Congress Following Withdrawal As DOJ Nominee Amid Controversy

Matt Gaetz has said he will not return to Congress after withdrawing as Trump’s DOJ…

1 hour ago

Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval For Oluyede As Chief Of Army Staff

President Tinubu has sought Senate confirmation of Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff, citing…

1 hour ago

Netanyahu Risks Arrest in UK as ICC Issues Warrant Against Him For War Crimes

Israeli PM Netanyahu faces potential arrest in the UK as Downing Street pledges to fulfill…

4 hours ago

Second Australian Teen Dies from Suspected Methanol Poisoning in Laos

A second Australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, bringing to six…

4 hours ago

Simon Ekpa Arrested, Denies Being IPOB Leader + Atiku Says Tinubu’s Loans Are Bone-Crushing – Trending With Ojy Okpe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFlFl1mPGC8 The arrest of self-proclaimed Prime minister of the Biafra Republic, Simon Ekpa who was…

5 hours ago

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Evacuated, Bomb Disposal Team Deployed Suspicious Item Found In Luggage

Gatwick Airport's South Terminal was evacuated after a suspected prohibited item was found, prompting bomb…

5 hours ago