Labour Party Leadership Tussle Escalates with New INEC Submission
The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party has taken a new turn as a faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman has formally presented a 34-member Interim National Working Committee list to the Independent National Electoral Commission. This move significantly intensifies the ongoing leadership struggle within the opposition party.
Details of the INEC Submission
The crucial document was jointly signed by Senator Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairman and Darlington Nwokocha as Interim National Secretary. It was officially addressed to INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan and was stamped as received by the electoral body on Friday, November 28, 2025.
In their cover letter, the Usman-led group justified their action by referencing specific provisions of the Labour Party constitution and a National Executive Council resolution dated July 18, 2025. They asserted that this NEC resolution granted them the authority to establish the party's interim national leadership structure.
The faction explicitly requested that INEC recognize the submitted names as the "legitimate and authentic Interim National Working Committee leadership of the Labour Party." Senator Usman emphasized that the NEC had authorized the interim leadership to "constitute the full body of the interim national leadership in accordance with Article 13 of the Labour Party constitution."
Competing Factions and Political Backing
This development comes just one day after the rival faction led by Julius Abure convened its own NEC meeting, which was attended by INEC officials and former vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed. During that meeting, Abure reaffirmed his position as the party's national chairman.
The Usman and Nwokocha faction claims significant political backing from influential party figures including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, along with other key stakeholders.
The newly submitted 34-member list includes several high-ranking positions such as:
- Deputy National Chairman (TUC) Mohammed Misau
- Deputy National Chairman (Female) Mrs. Nike Oriola
- Deputy National Chairman (NLC) Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku
The faction has declared that this comprehensive list supersedes both an earlier abridged list submitted in August and the list recently forwarded to INEC by the Julius Abure-led faction.
Implications for Nigeria's Political Landscape
With two competing factions now having submitted separate leadership lists to INEC, the Labour Party's internal crisis appears far from resolution. This situation places the electoral commission in the challenging position of having to navigate another complex political dispute that could significantly impact Nigeria's opposition politics.
The timing of these developments is particularly crucial as the party prepares for future electoral contests, making the outcome of this leadership struggle vital for its political direction and stability.
