A faction of the Labour Party loyal to Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi has submitted a new 34‑member list of its Interim National Working Committee to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), intensifying the ongoing battle for control of the party. The list, signed by Interim National Chairman Nenadi Usman and Interim National Secretary Darlington Nwokocha, was sent to INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan on Friday. The faction stresses that the names on this list supersede an earlier abridged list submitted in August and the lists recently presented by another faction led by Julius Abure.
According to the cover letter, the interim leadership derives from the statutory NEC resolutions of 18 July 2025 and complies with the Labour Party constitution. The NEC empowered the interim leadership to constitute the full body of the interim national leadership in accordance with Article 13 of the party’s constitution. The 34‑member list includes notable figures such as Deputy National Chairman Mohammed Misau, Deputy National Chairman (Female) Nike Oriola, and Deputy National Chairman (NLC) Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, as well as members like Eragbe Anselem, Sarah Bago and Prof Austin Akubue, among others. The faction urges INEC to take legal and official notice of the forwarded names as the legitimate and authentic Interim National Working Committee leadership of the Labour Party.
This development follows a recent meeting of another camp of the party, led by National Chairman Julius Abure, which was held in Abuja and attended by INEC officials and former vice‑presidential candidate Datti Baba‑Ahmed. That meeting reaffirmed Abure as national chairman, a position contested by Obi, Otti and other stakeholders. The leadership split has persisted for months, with both sides invoking court orders and constitutional provisions to support their claims.
The submission of the new list underscores the deepening crisis within the Labour Party. With both factions vying for control, the party’s future remains uncertain. As the 2027 election approaches, the ability of the Labour Party to resolve its internal conflicts will be crucial to its viability as a political force in Nigeria. INEC’s response to the new list will be closely watched, as it may have significant implications for the party’s leadership and direction.
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