.NWC led by Abure holds state, local and district congresses
The leadership crisis in the Labor Party (LP) has become dizzying with the probable birth of a third camp between the two existing factions, according to the latest developments in the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) led by Senator Nenadi Usman.
The development came as Usman’s INWC on Friday presented Interim State Working Committee lists for 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Usman submitted the lists barely two days after the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) reportedly disbanded the INWC for failing to hold district, local government and state party congresses, leading to a national convention.
The dissolution letter, jointly signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Comrade SOZ Ejiofor, and the Secretary, Comrade Salisu Mohammed, was addressed to Usman and INWC Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, informing them of the expiration and dissolution of the INWC by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) and other stakeholders.
He stated that the INWC’s crime was not holding the LP district, local government and state congresses, having been given the opportunity to do so twice since September 4, 2024. He noted that the second opportunity was given to the INWC on July 18, 2025, but it again failed to fulfill the task.
“Following the above, you are hereby requested to cease all activities on behalf of the Labor Party and hand over all party documents in your possession to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT),” the letter read in part.
However, shortly after, another letter signed by the same Ejiofor and Mohammed repudiated the alleged dissolution of the INWC.
“We write to disassociate ourselves from the issuance of the previous letter, which was purportedly issued by ourselves communicating the expiration of the Labor Party’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC),” the disclaimer said.
He added that the alleged dissolution was the work of “mischief-makers”, assuring Senators Usman and Nwokocha of the confidence of the BoT and other stakeholders in them to continue “leading the party in the right direction”.
The findings indicated that the contradictory letters were a sign of factional infighting that was likely to give rise to a third LP camp that would rival the two already led by Usman and the National Labor Committee (NWC), chaired by lawyer Julius Abure.
Officials have refrained from talking about the apparent split in Usman’s camp, aside from the two contradictory letters.
However, one official, who did not want to be quoted, insisted that the Usman INWC remained dissolved, while promising a live press conference that the BoT will assess in the coming days to confirm the development.
However, the INWC, in a statement on Friday night, said it submitted the lists of the 32 state caretaker committees to INEC in accordance with the party’s constitution and the resolutions of the statutory meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held on July 18, 2025 in Abuja.
He added that the lists for Ondo, Ekiti, Niger and Kwara states were being finalized and would be sent to INEC in subsequent correspondence to be rounded up to 36 states.
In a statement by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the camp, Ife Salako, the party also informed INEC of the constitution of a national steering committee for membership revalidation/new registration as part of plans to reposition it ahead of the 2027 elections.
He stated: “This committee will also oversee the national launch of the Labor Party National Membership Campaign, codenamed Labor Party: Connecting 10 Million Nigerians; Connecting 10 Million Patriots for a New Nigeria.
“The Membership Revalidation/New Registration exercise is chaired by His Excellency, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Deputy Governor of Abia State, with Comrade Ladi Iliya and Dr. Kingsley Okundaye as Vice Presidents and Kamal Yusuf Ahmed as Secretary.
“The Labor Party urges its members and its many supporters across the country to take full advantage of the revalidation exercise scheduled to commence on December 17, 2025 and end on January 20, 2026, to revalidate their membership in the party. The party also calls on Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the misrule of the current APC government to register with the Labor Party and be part of the movement for a New Nigeria.
“The Party also urges the newly constituted Provisional State Working Committees to fully cooperate with the National Steering Committee for Membership Revalidation/New Registration to ensure a smooth exercise and help the party surpass its projected target of registering 10 million members within the stipulated time frame.
“The Labor Party expresses its deep gratitude to the Nigerian people, especially the media, for their steadfast support during the recent difficult times. We urge all Nigerians to remain vigilant as the forces that orchestrated past crises, now resolved by the apex court, continue to lurk.”
Coincidentally, while Usman’s INWC submitted lists of state committees to INEC, the Abure-led NWC is busy holding district, local and state government congresses.
According to the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led NWC, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the district congresses were held on December 2, while the local government congresses were held on Thursday, December 4 in all states except Abia State due to a court order.
The faction is expected to hold its state congresses in December.
“At its NEC meeting held on Friday, November 28 and attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the party resolved to reposition the party by ensuring that party leaders across the board emerge democratically and in accordance with the electoral law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Labor Party therefore calls on Nigerians to embrace the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. We are repositioning ourselves to enhance our ability to drive the leadership of this great nation as soon as possible,” the group said.
At the moment, none of the camps are officially recognized by INEC on its portal by including its officials in its records, apart from monitoring what happens in the camps when they are invited.