Court orders INEC to recognise Nenadi Usman-led leadership of Labour Party

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Again, court intervened in the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party on Wednesday with a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu affirming Nenadi-led caretaker committee as the valid leadership of the party.

Justice Lifu of Federal High Court made the declaration while delivering judgment in the suit filed by the Nenadi Usman led faction of Labour Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Judge predicated his ruling on the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on April 4th 2025.

The Judge said the apex court in the judgement recognized Nenadi Usman leadership of the party as it declared that the tenure of the Julius Abure led rival faction has expired.

Justice Lifu therefore ordered INEC to recognize Nenadi Usman as interim National Chairman of Labour Party.

A faction of Labour Party (LP) National Executive Council (NEC) had ratified and inaugurated the interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Sen. Nenadi Usman as Chairman and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha as Secretary July 18, 2025 after a meeting in Abuja.

This was after the Supreme Court judgement that purportedly sacked the Abure- led executive of the party.

The communique issued after the meeting was signed by Gov. Alex Otti of Abia and the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) Chief Sylvester Ejiofoh.

Other signatories include the BOT Secretary, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed, President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, President Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifor among others.

“The NEC unanimously ratified and inaugurated the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Labour Party under the leadership of Sen. Nenadi Usman as the Interim National Chairman and Sen. Darlington Nwokocha as the interim National Secretary among other persons.

However, the Abure led faction had rejected the inauguration while insisting that it remained the valid and constitutionally recognized executive of the party.