The Labour Party (LP) is facing increasing anxiety as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to grant official recognition to the party’s newly-formed caretaker committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, two weeks after its establishment.
The 29-member committee was formed on September 4, 2024, following a stakeholders’ meeting organized by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and LP national leader Peter Obi. Its primary role is to oversee the election of new party executives across all levels. However, INEC’s failure to acknowledge the committee has slowed its progress.
An anonymous member of the committee disclosed that despite submitting a formal recognition request on September 6, INEC has not acted. The electoral body reportedly asked the committee to await the outcome of a court case involving LP’s leadership dispute, currently pending in the Federal High Court, Abuja.
This delay comes just a week after embattled LP National Chairman Julius Abure filed a lawsuit to prevent INEC from recognizing Usman’s leadership. Complications also arose when INEC rejected the committee’s first letter of request, as it lacked a direct signature from Obi.
Meanwhile, the Usman-led committee has sought a court injunction from a High Court in Aba to stop Abure’s faction from presenting themselves as party leaders. Party leaders, including Datti Baba-Ahmed and Ikechukwu Emetu, attended a recent meeting of the caretaker committee in Abuja.
Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, criticized the caretaker committee, dismissing its legitimacy and accusing its members of attempting to destabilize the party.
The internal struggle continues as the party awaits INEC’s decision on the matter.
