Abia, February 1 Epicstorian News ) — Abia State Governor and national leader of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Alex Otti, has moved to reassert firm control over the party following months of internal crisis, declaring that former factional National Chairman Julius Abure and his supporters can only return if they formally submit to the Nenadi Usman-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC).
Otti’s position comes in the wake of the January 21, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which removed Abure as national chairman after a prolonged leadership dispute that had fractured the party and weakened its political influence.
The court ruling effectively ended a damaging period of parallel leadership structures that had thrown the Labour Party into administrative confusion since 2023. The conflict had left the party unable to conduct valid congresses, present candidates for some elections, or operate as a cohesive political organization.
Following the judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) updated its official records to recognize the Nenadi Usman-led Interim NWC as the legitimate leadership of the party, while delisting the Abure-led executive.
The decision by INEC brought legal and institutional clarity to the Labour Party’s leadership question.
Court Intervention Ends Months of Turmoil
The leadership crisis in the Labour Party had been brewing for more than two years, beginning shortly after the 2023 general elections. The party, which gained national prominence during the elections, soon became divided over issues of internal governance, finances, and control of party structures.
Several stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accused Abure of running the party in violation of its constitution. Multiple court cases were filed, resulting in conflicting judgments from different jurisdictions.
These legal battles created uncertainty over who legitimately controlled the party, making it difficult for the LP to carry out routine political activities or prepare adequately for upcoming elections.
The Supreme Court intervened on April 4, 2025, delivering a landmark judgment that affirmed that political parties must strictly adhere to their constitutions in resolving internal disputes. That ruling laid the foundation for subsequent decisions of the Federal High Court.
Relying on the Supreme Court precedent, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court declared that the Abure-led executive had violated the Labour Party constitution and therefore could not continue in office. The court recognized Senator Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance, as head of an Interim National Working Committee to manage the party pending a national convention.
INEC Recognition Strengthens New Leadership
INEC’s decision to comply with the Federal High Court ruling marked a decisive turning point. By formally recognizing the Nenadi Usman-led Interim NWC on its official portal, the electoral commission effectively ended the era of parallel leadership within the Labour Party.
Political analysts say the move by INEC has restored administrative order and provided the party with a clear legal foundation to rebuild.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday night after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting, Governor Otti welcomed the development, describing it as a new beginning for the party.
“For the first time in months, the Labour Party can now move forward,” Otti said. “We have a legally recognized leadership, and we must now focus on rebuilding our structures and restoring confidence among our members and supporters.”
The governor stressed that the party must put the era of litigation and infighting behind it.
Conditions for Reconciliation
While striking a conciliatory tone, Otti made it clear that reconciliation with Abure and his loyalists would only occur on constitutional terms.
“Once they are willing to abide by the rules of the party, we would be happy to receive them,” he said, urging the former chairman and his supporters to “sheath their swords” and work for the unity of the Labour Party.
He emphasized that there would be no room for factional structures or attempts to undermine the authority of the Interim NWC.
“This party must be governed by its constitution. Nobody is above the rules,” Otti added.
Stakeholders Meeting Charts Path Forward
The expanded meeting held at the Abia State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja brought together major stakeholders from across the Labour Party family.
Those in attendance included representatives of the NLC, TUC, members of the party’s Board of Trustees, and officials of the Nenadi Usman-led Interim NWC.
The gathering focused on practical steps to revive the party after months of stagnation.
Key decisions reached at the meeting included the immediate rebuilding of party structures nationwide, approval for Ward, State, and Zonal Congresses, and preparations for a national convention to elect substantive party executives.
Otti also announced that a nationwide membership revalidation and fresh registration exercise would commence in March 2026.
According to him, the process is aimed at cleaning up the party’s membership database and ensuring that only genuine members participate in future congresses.
Political Cost of the Crisis
Despite the renewed optimism, the Abia governor admitted that the prolonged leadership crisis had inflicted serious political damage on the Labour Party.
He confirmed that the party would be unable to participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections because of administrative challenges created by the internal dispute.
“It is painful, but unavoidable,” Otti said. “The conflicting court orders and leadership issues made it impossible for us to meet INEC requirements for the elections.”
Observers believe the LP’s absence from the FCT polls highlights the real-world consequences of internal party instability.
Role of Labour Unions in Party Rebuilding
The involvement of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in the rebuilding process underscores their historical role as the ideological backbone of the Labour Party.
Union leaders have consistently argued that the party must remain rooted in its founding principles and resist attempts at personalization or hijack by private interests.
Their support for the Interim NWC is seen as critical to restoring credibility and reconnecting the party with its traditional base.
Looking Toward 2027
With Nigeria’s next general elections scheduled for 2027, time is of the essence for the Labour Party to reorganize and reposition itself as a credible national alternative.
The party performed strongly in the 2023 elections, particularly among young voters and urban populations, raising hopes that it could evolve into a major political force.
However, the internal crisis that followed slowed that momentum and created doubts about its future.
Governor Otti’s intervention is now widely viewed as an attempt to stabilize the party and prepare it for the political battles ahead.
The Labour Party appears to have turned a critical corner. With a legally recognized leadership, institutional backing from INEC, and the support of organized labour, the party has an opportunity to rebuild.
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Governor Otti’s message has been unambiguous: the door is open, but only to those willing to respect the constitution and the rule of law.
The coming months will determine whether the Labour Party can transform this moment of crisis into a genuine political rebirth.
