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The leadership crisis that shook the Labor Party (LP) took a new turn on Friday as a loyal faction to Julius Abure to reject the appointment of Nenadi Usman as the temporary national chairman of the party, describing the process that caused its emergence as “illegal and unimportant.”
Usman, a former minister, was elected at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Umuahia, the state of Abia, with a rival faction believed to be in line with Governor Alex Otti. The meeting also witnessed the emergence of former Senator Darlington Nwokocha as a temporary national secretary.
The faction stated that the new appointment was part of an effort to rearrange party leadership ahead of the planned national convention. The newly formed Temporary National Work Committee (NWC) is expected to manage party affairs until the new NEC is elected.
However, the leadership led by Abure refused development, describing the Umuahia meeting as invalid. In a statement signed by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary of the Party, the faction said the meeting and resolution did not have constitutional weight.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labor Party has been interested in other illegal meetings from several deferred party members who have a parade as a member of the National Executive Committee,” the statement said.
“Usually, we don’t think we have to comment in connection with this eternal jamboree since the meeting and the results are not important, canceled, and canceled.”
Also read: Otti calls for unity when the Labor Party wrestles with the leadership crisis
Ibrahim insisted that only the National Secretary, consulted with the National Chair, who was empowered by the party’s constitution to hold a NEC meeting. He quoted Article 14 (4) (b) and Article 13 (b) (XII) of the LP Constitution to strengthen claims, adding that only NECs have the authority to form or appoint a committee.
He argues that there are no vacancies in party national leadership, noting that the executives are currently in office until 2028. “There has never been a vacancy in the leadership of the Labor Party, and there will be no until 2028,” he said.
The National Secretary also referred the Supreme Court’s decision on April 4, 2025, which he said strengthened the legitimacy of leadership led by Abure and emphasized the non-judicial attitude in the issue of internal parties.
He accused the Governor of Otti of trying to confuse the party, accusing that some of his allies had distanced himself from the parallel faction.
“Governor of Otti may not be aware that his wings have been revealed, because the majority of fighters and leaders have left him and moved,” Ibrahim said.
“He may live in ignorance and in the past. As we have enjoyed before, the coalition needs it more, and we think he must take our advice seriously.”
He urged party members to ignore the results of the Umuahia meeting and instead focus on the objectives of the unity and development of the party. Ibrahim also targeted the governor’s priority, saying: “We urge the governor to channel the resources of the state of Abia to provide basic infrastructure for people both the state.”
