INEC Recognises Nenadi Usman-Led Labour Party Leadership After Court Order

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) led by Senator Nenadi Usman, following a directive issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The decision has intensified the ongoing leadership tussle within the opposition party and signalled a new phase in its internal reorganisation ahead of future electoral contests.

Checks on INEC’s official website as of Friday confirmed that Usman has been listed as the chairperson of the Labour Party’s caretaker committee, alongside other members of the NWC. INEC stated that its action was in compliance with a subsisting court order mandating the commission to acknowledge the Usman-led leadership structure.

Court Ruling and INEC’s Compliance

The recognition by INEC follows a judgment delivered on January 21 by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Nenadi Usman-led NWC of the Labour Party. In the ruling, Justice Peter Lifu ordered INEC to recognise the Usman-led body as the party’s lawful leadership pending the conduct of its next national convention.

Justice Lifu’s decision was anchored on an earlier Supreme Court verdict, which he said identified Usman as the authentic leader of the party. The court held that Julius Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired, based on evidence presented before it. As a result, the court declared the establishment of a caretaker committee a necessary step to ensure continuity within the party.

While noting that leadership disputes are generally internal party matters, the judge maintained that the intervention was justified by the circumstances arising from the Supreme Court’s ruling. He consequently directed INEC to give effect to the court’s findings by recognising the Usman-led NWC as the party’s legally acknowledged authority.

Composition of the Recognised NWC

Following INEC’s update, Senator Nenadi Usman is listed as chairperson of the Labour Party’s caretaker committee. Other recognised members of the National Working Committee include Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary, Hamisu Santuraki as National Treasurer, Aisha Madije as National Financial Secretary, and Eric Ifere as National Legal Adviser.

The listing on INEC’s platform effectively positions the Usman-led committee as the official interface between the Labour Party and the electoral umpire. This recognition carries significant implications for party administration, compliance with electoral regulations, and preparations for future elections.

Observers note that INEC’s action underscores the influence of judicial pronouncements on party affairs, particularly when disputes escalate to the courts and result in binding orders on regulatory institutions.

Opposition, Appeals, and Party Fallout

Despite the court ruling and INEC’s compliance, the Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has rejected the decision and announced plans to appeal. The group’s spokesman, Obiorah Ifoh, described the Federal High Court judgment as contradictory to the Supreme Court’s position on party leadership disputes.

According to Ifoh, the Supreme Court had consistently held that courts lack the authority to appoint leadership for political parties, describing such matters as internal affairs. He further argued that the Court of Appeal had previously affirmed the Abure-led NWC as the party’s authentic leadership, insisting that the latest ruling conflicts with established judicial precedent.

The leadership crisis within the Labour Party dates back to the period following the 2023 general elections, in which the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, secured over six million votes nationwide. Subsequent realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, including Obi’s declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the appointment of Abia State Governor Alex Otti as the party’s national leader, have further reshaped the party’s internal dynamics.