Labour Party Crisis: Confusion in the camp of Nenadi Usman's Caretaker Committee as INEC rejects the dissolution of State Exco loyal to Abure

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has told the Senator Nenadi Usman led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party that it lacks the powers to dissolve the existing Ward, Local Government and State executives of the party and to replace them with interim executives. 

A news leak from Nenadi Usman's office in Abuja and made available to newsmen has it that the Caretaker Committee has been rattled by the development since receiving this response last two weeks, to an earlier request made to the Commission. 

The Caretaker Committee is at a loss on how to cross this bridge knowing that the majority of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) including the state chairmen and their secretaries are still loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure.

According to the leaked memo written on the 16th February 2026, by the INEC's Secretary,  Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony with reference number INEC/DEPM/LP/283/IV/36 and addressed to the Caretaker Chairman, , 
Labour Party titled, "RE: NOTIFICATION OF THE DISSOLUTION OF ALL STATE, LGA AND WARD EXECUTIVES AND CONSTITUTION OF INTERIM STATE WORKING COMMITTEES OF THE LABOUR PARTY ACROSS THE 36 STATES OF THE FEDERATION AND THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (FCT)", it states:

"Your letter on the above subject dated 6" February 2026 and received on the 10 of February 2026 refers. 

"The commission regrets to inform you that the dissolution of State, Local Government and Ward Executives of your Party in all the 36 States and FCT by the National Executive Council (NEC) without giving the Statutory Notice of the meeting to the Commission and without the authority to act in your Party Constitution cannot be acceded to.

"Accept the assurances of the Commission’s high regard."

This medium recalls that the Labour Party had between December 2nd and 6th, 2025 successfully conducted its Ward, Local Government and State congresses with the approval and under the watchful eyes of the INEC.  

In Abia state, the Congress could not hold after a State High Court in Abia restrained the party from going ahead with the Congress pending the determination of charges filed against the state leadership of the party by agents of the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti. Presently, the governor's brother, Emma Otti is illegally holding the party in the state for his brother. 

Labour Party has been in a protracted crisis since September 4, 2024 when a group led by the party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abia state governor, Dr. Otti mutinied against the party leadership in an ill-fated and illegal stakeholders meeting in Umuahia. The judgement of all the cases filed in the courts up to the Supreme Court against the leadership of the party were in favour of Barrister Julius Abure leadership. 

However, a Federal High Court in FCT had on the 21st January 2026, in a weird judgement, curiously misinterpreted the judgement of the Supreme Court by not only recognizing Nenadi Usman as the valid leader of the Labour Party but also ordering INEC to do the same. That warped judgement has since been appealed.

This medium also reported that Senator Nenadi Usman with the protection of the Police and other security agencies invaded and occupied the National Secretariat of the Labour Party. This is in spite of the order of the court for a stay of execution and a notice of appeal duly served them. The use of brute force effectively drove away Abure and his team out of the Secretariat with Nenadi and her cohorts taken over. 

Having failed to persuade INEC to dissolve the existing and properly elected state executives of the party, it is not known what other steps Nenadi Usman will explore as she has refused to call for a NEC meeting to address this development. It is feared that any meeting of the NEC properly convened will result to a vote of no confidence by the pro-Abure members who are clearly in the majority. 

It is even more curious because the funder of the Nenadi camp, the Abia state governor has no existing executive in his state, as the governor resisted the attempt for Congress to hold in Abia state. The implication is that Labour Party may be prevented from participating in the 2027 governorship election in Abia state until the legal hurdle is cleared and Congress held. 

Attempts to reach Nenadi Usman or the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Darlington Nwokocha were not successful. Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh was unable to respond to our Whatsapp chat sent to him before press time.

However, a Labour Party stakeholder, Comrade Usman Aliu called for a peaceful resolution of the impasse in the interest of the party warning that the crisis has the capacity to consume the party permanently if nothing urgent is done.

He said, "It is unbelievable that in a few weeks from now, political parties will commence party activities ahead 2027 yet some persons are still hell bent on destroying the party and making it ineffective in the present political activities. 

"I do not think that the Abia state governor has interest in running with the Labour Party in 2027. It is obvious that he has another political agenda but history will remember him for his role in decapitating a party that brought him to power. Nigerian politicians are the same. Selfish interest and nothing more."

End.