Fresh Crisis Hits Labour Party Over Over Tenure Extension for Usman, Others

Hostilities within the Labour Party (LP) flared up again yesterday as the Julius Abure-led faction dismissed the election of Senator Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as Interim National Secretary, branding the process as illegal and of no consequence.

The disputed election took place at a meeting of the statutory National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Umuahia, Abia State. But in a swift rebuttal, the Abure faction insisted the gathering was unconstitutional, alleging it was attended by suspended members parading as NEC officials.

Umar Farouk, National Secretary of the Abure faction, issued a statement declaring that only the National Chairman and Secretary have the authority to convene such a meeting.

He cited Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii) of the party’s constitution to support his claims, stating: “By the above provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Caretaker Committee, being the product of the illegal Umuahia meeting, is unconstitutional and of no effect.”

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Farouk also slammed Governor Otti over his comments at the Usman faction meeting, where the governor reportedly called on Abure, Lamidi Apapa, and other party members to tender formal apologies before being reintegrated into the party.

Accusing Otti of interfering in party affairs and misusing state funds, Farouk said: “Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed… He is probably living in ignorance and in the past. He should channel Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows.”

He further reminded party members of the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court ruling which advised that all intra-party disputes be resolved internally according to the party’s constitution.

Usman-Led Faction Charts Way Forward

Despite the backlash, the Senator Usman-led faction insists that it now constitutes the legitimate Interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party and will oversee party affairs until a national convention is held to elect new officials.

In a communiqué issued after the Umuahia NEC meeting, the faction announced that it had approved a timetable for ward, LGA, state, zonal congresses, and the party’s national convention. The National Secretariat is expected to publish guidelines for these elections to ensure transparency.

Speaking at the meeting, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, threw his weight behind the Usman faction, stating: “The Congress which formed the party is very much with this LP. We have not abandoned the party.”

Governor Alex Otti, also present at the meeting, maintained that the gathering was a lawful response to the Supreme Court ruling affirming Senator Usman as National Chairperson. “As law-abiding people, we felt we should obey the Supreme Court judgement… this is about putting in place structures to reposition the party ahead of the national convention,” he said.