INEC declares labour party has no officially recognised leaders

DDM News

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared that it does not recognise any of the factions currently claiming leadership of the Labour Party (LP).

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that this announcement adds to the rising tension and deepening crisis within the LP, a party once celebrated for its dramatic rise during the 2023 general elections.

The party, which emerged as a significant third force in Nigerian politics through the popularity of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is now plagued by internal conflict.

Currently, four factions are jostling for control of the party.

These are led by Julius Abure, Senator Nenadi Usman, Lamidi Apapa, and the Political Commission of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

INEC’s position became necessary following widespread media reports suggesting it had recognised certain individuals as the party’s national chairman and secretary.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, issued a statement to counter the misinformation.

He described the reports as false, misleading, and not reflective of the commission’s current stance.

Oyekanmi clarified that the names previously uploaded on INEC’s website were there due to an earlier court order, which bears no relation to the recent Supreme Court judgment on the matter.

According to INEC, it is still studying the Supreme Court’s decision that classified the leadership tussle in the LP as an internal issue.

Until the commission completes its legal review, it will not make any definitive pronouncements on the leadership of the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, the party’s internal crisis took a sharp turn when the Julius Abure-led faction suspended several prominent members.

Those suspended include Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and three members of the House of Representatives — Afam Victor Ogene, Amobi Godwin Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.

The suspension was based on allegations of anti-party activities.

This move was immediately rejected by the caretaker committee, which has its own leadership structure chaired by Senator Nenadi Usman.

The caretaker faction not only dismissed the suspensions but also established an investigative panel to probe allegations of financial misconduct within Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives joined in the criticism.

They accused Julius Abure of deliberately trying to destroy the party from within.

In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja, the affected lawmakers described Abure as a “dethroned emperor” desperately clinging to power.

They said Abure lacks the moral standing to sanction any party member.

According to them, the Supreme Court ruling had nullified his leadership status, reducing him to a “shameless impostor.”

The lawmakers further criticised Abure’s failure to build on the momentum generated by the party in the 2023 elections.

They questioned what progress he had made in recruiting notable politicians or strengthening the party’s structures.

They challenged him to name any well-known individual who joined the party under his leadership since 2023.

Citing the party’s poor performance in Kogi, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Edo States, the lawmakers accused Abure of mismanaging the party’s electoral opportunities.

They claimed he turned the Labour Party into a money-making machine by extorting aspirants during the ticketing process.

In Edo State, Abure’s home base, he allegedly lost his own polling unit and was publicly embarrassed over disputes concerning misappropriated delegate funds.

The lawmakers described him as an overambitious and ego-driven figure who no longer enjoys grassroots support.

They mocked his frequent appearances in the media, saying he behaves more like a publicity agent than a national chairman.

According to them, Abure has become a self-appointed undertaker, overseeing the burial of the party’s vision and his own political credibility.

They predicted that his continued involvement in party affairs will only deepen the LP’s crisis and damage his reputation further.

The Labour Party, once seen as a vessel for change and democratic engagement, now faces the risk of self-destruction.

Without clear resolution and internal cohesion, the LP risks becoming irrelevant ahead of the next electoral cycle.

INEC’s refusal to recognise any faction, coupled with the Supreme Court’s position, places the burden of resolution squarely on the party’s shoulders.

Until the LP resolves its internal crisis and emerges with a unified leadership, its role in Nigerian politics remains uncertain.

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