The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has directed the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) to organise a national convention within 90 days to elect a new and expanded National Working Committee (NWC).
The decision is part of efforts to reposition the party following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that ousted Julius Abure as National Chairman.
The directive was issued during a crucial NEC meeting on Wednesday, coming just weeks after the Supreme Court on April 4 invalidated earlier rulings from the FCT High Court and the Appeal Court that had upheld Abure’s chairmanship.
The court ruled the lower courts lacked jurisdiction in the matter. Notably, the tenure of the LP’s last validly elected NWC, which came into office in 2019, expired on June 8, 2024.
In line with a consent judgment brokered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 26, 2022, and formally executed between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the LP on June 27, 2022, the NEC adopted a series of resolutions aimed at stabilising and rebuilding the party.
Key resolutions include mandating the caretaker committee to organise a party convention within 90 days and appointing three Deputy National Chairmen to support Senator Nenadi Usman in leading the NCC.
Others are appointing three Deputy National Secretaries to assist National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, filling all NWC vacancies within the interim structure and setting up standing and ad-hoc committees to facilitate congresses at all levels leading up to the convention.
Additionally, the NEC approved the relocation of the party’s national headquarters to a new secretariat in Abuja.
INEC has been formally notified to decommission the previous secretariat at No. 2 IBM Haruna Street, Utako District, Abuja.
In a major mobilisation effort, the NEC also launched a nationwide membership drive targeting 10 million new members within 30 days.
The campaign includes an online registration portal providing members with downloadable, uniquely numbered membership cards.
Physical registration options will also be available, with all existing members required to revalidate their membership and pay an annual subscription fee of ₦1,200. Support groups will be issued registration certificates with unique identifiers.
As part of the road map to 2025, the party plans to conduct ward, local government, and state congresses, as well as delegate elections, culminating in what is expected to be the most inclusive and expansive National Convention in the party’s history.
Party officials say the new direction aims to reinforce internal democracy and energise the LP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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