INEC Recognises Nenadi Usman‑Led Labour Party NWC After Court Order

INEC Recognises Nenadi Usman‑Led Labour Party NWC After Court Order
Abure faction plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Labour Party leadership dispute continues as 2027 elections near.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the Labour Party (LP) National Working Committee (NWC) led by Nenadi Usman, following a Federal High Court directive.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a check of INEC’s website on Friday showed Usman listed as the Caretaker Committee Chairperson of the party. Other members of the recognised NWC include Senator Darlington Nwokocha (National Secretary), Hamisu Santuraki (National Treasurer), Aisha Madije (National Financial Secretary), and Eric Ifere (National Legal Adviser).

The move follows a January 21 ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Peter Lifu upheld Usman’s leadership and directed INEC to recognise her NWC. The judge based his decision on an earlier Supreme Court verdict confirming Nenadi Usman as the authentic leader of the Labour Party.

Justice Lifu noted, “The evidence before the court indicated that Abure’s tenure as Labour Party national chairman had ended,” describing the creation of the Caretaker Committee as “a necessity” following the apex court’s ruling. The judge further directed INEC to treat the Usman‑led Committee as the legally recognised authority until the next valid national convention is held.

The recognition of Usman’s faction adds another dimension to the ongoing leadership dispute within the Labour Party, one of Nigeria’s key opposition parties.

In response, the faction loyal to Julius Abure announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal. Spokesman Obiorah Ifoh argued that the Federal High Court judgment contradicted the Supreme Court’s stance on internal party matters.

He said, “The judgment was a clear contradiction of the Supreme Court judgment, which clearly stated that no court has the power to appoint leadership for any political party and that leadership issues are internal affairs of political parties.” Ifoh also noted that the Court of Appeal had previously affirmed Abure’s NWC as the party’s authentic leadership.

The Labour Party’s internal conflict dates back to the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, where former presidential candidate Peter Obi secured over six million votes. With the 2027 elections approaching, Obi has since joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leaving the Labour Party to appoint Governor Alex Otti of Abia State as its national leader.