......Abure’s Chairmanship Tussle Tied to Party’s Omission, Nzeribe’s Camp Vows to Fight On
Political uncertainty has gripped Anambra South Senatorial District as the Labour Party (LP) was conspicuously excluded from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of political parties participating in the August 16 bye-election.
The development has sent shockwaves through the campaign of Rt. Hon. Chuma Nzeribe, LP’s candidate in the rerun, and cast a shadow over the party’s ability to maintain its rising momentum in the region. Analysts and insiders have attributed the exclusion to unresolved leadership battles within the party, most notably the fallout from the April 4 Supreme Court ruling that nullified the chairmanship of Julius Abure.
The apex court’s decision, which stripped Abure of all legal authority, has triggered a legitimacy crisis within LP’s national structure—leading to questions about the legality of nominations, primaries, and decisions made under his tenure.
“Anyone who obtained nomination or expression of interest forms from Julius Abure did so on a foundation that no longer exists,” a senior party official told our correspondent. “The court ruling is clear: Abure's actions hold no legal value. The recognized national leadership is now under Senator Nenadi Usman, and the party must move on.”
Despite the glaring setback, the campaign organization of Rt. Hon. Chuma Nzeribe is not throwing in the towel. In a statement released on Wednesday, the campaign downplayed the exclusion as a correctable oversight and accused political opponents of exploiting the situation to mislead the public.
“We are fully aware of the so-called INEC list being circulated and celebrated by our detractors,” the statement read. “This is not the first time INEC has made a premature or mistaken exclusion. A similar situation occurred in the FCT rerun and was swiftly corrected. We are confident that the omission will be addressed and our candidate’s name restored.”
The campaign further described the situation as a politically motivated attempt to derail a strong candidacy and stifle the growing popularity of the Labour Party in Anambra South.
Nonetheless, the uncertainty has raised the stakes. With just weeks to go, Labour Party must now rely on a timely court judgment or a swift administrative reversal from INEC to remain in the contest. Legal experts warn that any further delay could leave the party without a lifeline.
Meanwhile, other political parties, particularly the Young Progressives Party (YPP), are intensifying grassroots campaigns across the senatorial district. Observers note that YPP’s candidate, Prince Oforbuike Okoli-Egbo, and others are running well-organized, quiet but impactful campaigns aimed at consolidating voter support. Sources also confirm that YPP is ready to engage in public debates to assess the intellectual depth and preparedness of candidates seeking to represent the district at the Red Chamber.
As the bye-election date draws closer, the spotlight remains on whether the Labour Party can recover from this legal entanglement and re-enter the race. For now, the battle for Anambra South is shaping up to be a test not just of political strength, but of institutional survival.