Labour Party crisis worsens as Abure faction rejects Nenadi Usman’s appointment as interim chair

The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a new turn on Friday as the faction loyal to Julius Abure rejected the appointment of Nenadi Usman as the party’s interim national chairperson, describing the process that led to her emergence as “illegal and inconsequential.”

Usman, a former minister, was elected at a national executive committee (NEC) meeting convened in Umuahia, Abia State, by a rival faction believed to be aligned with Governor Alex Otti. The meeting also saw the emergence of former Senator Darlington Nwokocha as interim national secretary.

The faction stated that the new appointments were part of an effort to reconstitute the party’s leadership ahead of a planned national convention. The newly formed interim National Working Committee (NWC) is expected to manage the party’s affairs until a new NEC is elected.

However, the Abure-led leadership dismissed the development, describing the Umuahia gathering as illegitimate. In a statement signed by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the party’s national secretary, the faction said the meeting and its resolutions hold no constitutional weight.

“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee,” the statement read.

“Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome is inconsequential, null, and void.”

READ ALSO: Otti calls for unity as Labour Party grapples with leadership crisis

Ibrahim insisted that only the national secretary, in consultation with the national chairman, is empowered by the party’s constitution to convene an NEC meeting. He cited Article 14(4)(b) and Article 13(B)(xii) of the LP constitution to reinforce the claim, adding that only the NEC has the authority to constitute or appoint committees.

He argued that there is no vacancy in the party’s national leadership, noting that the current executives remain in office until 2028. “There has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party, and there will not be any until 2028,” he said.

The national secretary also referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling of April 4, 2025, which he said upheld the legitimacy of the Abure-led leadership and affirmed the judiciary’s non-interference stance in internal party matters.

He accused Governor Otti of attempting to destabilise the party, alleging that several of his allies had already distanced themselves from the parallel faction.

“Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed, as the majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on,” Ibrahim said.

“He is probably living in ignorance and in the past. As we have advised him earlier, the coalition needs him more, and we think he should take our advice seriously.”

He urged party members to disregard the outcome of the Umuahia meeting and focus instead on party unity and development goals. Ibrahim also took aim at the governor’s priorities, saying: “We urge the governor to channel the Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state.”

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