The Labour Party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, presided over a National Executive Council meeting on Friday, attended by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission and former vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed. The meeting, held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, aimed to address the long-running disputes over the 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.

The convention had sparked a leadership crisis, with factions and counter-claims emerging from high-ranking stakeholders, including 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. In response, Obi and Otti had set up a 29-man caretaker committee to organize fresh congresses and a national convention. However, the move deepened the leadership split, with both sides citing court orders and constitutional provisions to justify their claims.

Abure explained that the NEC meeting was convened to resolve the crises and strategically position the party for the 2027 election. He cited recent Supreme Court pronouncements affirming that the leadership and internal affairs of political parties are non-justiciable, and that the NEC has the power to manage the party’s affairs between national conventions. The chairman appreciated the INEC leadership for sending representatives to the meeting, which he said ratified his position.

The NEC reaffirmed the list of national officers elected on March 27, 2024, in Anambra State, with Abure retained as National Chairman and Umar Farouk Ibrahim as National Secretary. The council also filled several vacant positions and mandated the chairman and secretary to convene a special convention if necessary. Additionally, plans were ratified to conduct ward, local government, and state congresses nationwide.

The INEC delegation, led by Mrs. Rakiya Dattijo, comprised officials from the Litigation and Election and Party Monitoring departments. Abure noted that the Labour Party has set the pace and standard for political parties in Nigeria, emphasizing that parties are corporate entities with their constitution, rules, and guidelines binding on members. With the NEC meeting, the party aims to move forward and prepare for the 2027 election, having addressed the internal disputes and reaffirmed its leadership structure.