The Julius Abure-led Labour Party faction has rejected Senator Nenadi Usman as the interim national chairman, declaring the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that appointed her as “illegal and inconsequential”. The meeting, held in Umuahia, Abia State, was convened by a rival LP faction believed to be aligned with Governor Alex Otti of Abia.
According to Abure’s faction, the NEC meeting was not convened according to the party’s constitution. They cited Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii), which state that only the national chairman and national secretary can summon a NEC meeting. The faction claims that the Umuahia meeting was an attempt to undermine Abure’s leadership and impose a new leadership structure on the party.
The Umuahia meeting appointed Nenadi Usman as interim national chairperson and Darlington Nwokocha as interim national secretary, with a mandate to oversee party affairs until a new NEC is elected. However, Abure’s faction maintains that his leadership remains intact, with no vacancy until 2028, as upheld by the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court judgment.
Abure’s faction accuses Governor Otti of instigating disunity within the party and wasting state resources on trivialities. They urge him to focus on governance in Abia State rather than meddling in national party affairs. The faction has vowed to take legal action against those behind the “unlawful assembly” and will notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the breach of internal party democracy.
The development highlights the ongoing internal conflicts within the Labour Party, with different factions vying for control and influence. Abure’s faction remains resolute in its stance, asserting its legitimacy and authority within the party.
