Concerns are escalating within the Labour Party’s Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as they grapple with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to grant recognition two weeks after the committee’s formation. The 29-member panel, inaugurated during a meeting of stakeholders led by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and party national leader Peter Obi, has been tasked with overseeing elections for new executives at all levels.
Since its establishment on September 4, the committee has been in limbo, unable to proceed due to INEC’s delay in conferring legitimacy. A committee member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over INEC’s inaction following the submission of a recognition request on September 6. Complicating matters, INEC has asked the committee to wait for the resolution of a lawsuit filed by the party’s leadership, currently pending in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This legitimacy challenge comes on the heels of reports that Julius Abure, the contested Labour Party National Chairman, has taken legal action against INEC to prevent the commission from officially recognizing the Usman-led committee. The source within the committee admitted that they did not anticipate facing such a bottleneck so soon after its inception.
“The original plan was to encourage Abure or some members of his National Working Committee to attend the Umuahia meeting, which would lend legitimacy to the proceedings,” the source explained. “Unfortunately, none of them showed up, undermining our efforts and leaving INEC claiming its hands were tied.”
The committee’s first letter seeking recognition was reportedly rejected due to a signature issue; a different individual signed on behalf of Obi, which INEC officials deemed unacceptable.
In response to the ongoing challenges, the committee has sought an injunction from a state High Court in Aba to prevent the Abure-led executives from claiming to be party officers.
In anticipation of this injunction, Usman and several party leaders gathered in Abuja on Tuesday to launch the inaugural meeting of the caretaker committee. Notable attendees included the Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate from the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, and Abia State’s Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu.
Attempts to reach Usman and the committee’s secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, for comments were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification.
Meanwhile, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, dismissed the legitimacy of the Usman-led committee, insisting that the party does not recognize it. He urged party members to refrain from acknowledging Usman and her team, whom he characterized as “destabilizing agents out to wreak havoc on the party.”
“Our party is intact, and we will not allow outsiders to disrupt what we have built,” Ifoh asserted. “Many of these individuals are newcomers, and they are already positioning themselves to take over. The Labour Party operates under a constitution, and anything unconstitutional will not be accepted.”
As the struggle for control and recognition within the Labour Party intensifies, the question remains: will the Usman-led committee secure its legitimacy, or will internal strife continue to destabilize the party’s efforts? The coming weeks will be critical in determining the future of the Labour Party and its leadership dynamics.
