Author: Gist Correspondent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) led by Nenadi Usman, in compliance with a court order.

A check on INEC’s official website on Friday showed that Usman has been listed as the caretaker committee chairperson of the Labour Party, marking the commission’s latest position in the protracted leadership dispute within the opposition party.

Also listed as members of the recognised NWC are Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary; Hamisu Santuraki as National Treasurer; Aisha Madije as National Financial Secretary; and Eric Ifere as National Legal Adviser.

The development adds a fresh twist to the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party, which has remained divided since the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.

On January 21, the Federal High Court in Abuja recognised the Nenadi Usman-led National Working Committee, effectively removing Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman. Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling, relied on an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court which, according to him, affirmed Usman as the authentic leader of the party.

Justice Lifu ordered INEC to recognise the Usman-led NWC as the legally constituted leadership of the Labour Party pending the conduct of the party’s next national convention. He held that the evidence before the court showed that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had elapsed.

While describing the matter as a non-justiciable internal party affair, the judge said the formation of a caretaker committee was “a necessity” arising from the Supreme Court’s verdict.

However, the Abure-led faction of the party has rejected the ruling and vowed to challenge it at the appellate court. The group’s spokesman, Obiorah Ifoh, argued that the judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s position that courts lack the power to impose leadership on political parties.

“The Supreme Court was clear that leadership issues are internal affairs of political parties and that no court has the authority to appoint party leadership,” Ifoh said, adding that the Court of Appeal had previously affirmed the Abure-led NWC as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party.

The leadership crisis within the Labour Party dates back to the post-2023 election period, following the party’s strong showing in the presidential election, in which its candidate, Peter Obi, secured over six million votes.

As the party grapples with internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections, Obi has since declared for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while the Labour Party appointed Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as its national leader.