(DDM) – Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has declared that the party will overcome its internal crisis and reposition itself for victory in the 2027 general elections.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Senator Usman made this declaration on Saturday during her remarks at the COPDEM People’s Parliament, where she delivered a keynote address titled “Stabilizing the Labour Party: Challenges and Prospects.”
She told the gathering that her leadership of the Labour Party was not just about steering the party through turbulence but also about restoring hope to millions of Nigerians who still believe in the ideals of justice, fairness, and change that the party embodies.
Senator Usman noted that although the Labour Party was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2002, it was in 2023 that the fortunes of the party shifted dramatically.
According to her, the determination of Nigerian youths and ordinary citizens propelled the party to unprecedented success in the last general elections.
She recalled that the Labour Party won one governorship seat, eight senatorial seats, 34 seats in the House of Representatives, and dozens of seats across state Houses of Assembly in 2023.
That performance, she stressed, was proof that Nigerians were ready to challenge the dominance of the ruling class and embrace an alternative political platform.
Although the party’s presidential candidate did not emerge victorious, Usman explained that millions of Nigerians rejected the outcome announced by INEC.
She said the Labour Party pursued justice through the courts up to the Supreme Court, but the apex court upheld the INEC declaration.
As a law-abiding party, she emphasized, Labour Party leaders respected the judgment even though they strongly disagreed with it.
The Interim Chairman explained that after the disappointment of the presidential outcome, the party returned to the drawing board to reorganize and strengthen its internal structures.
However, she lamented that the reorganization process was disrupted by a leadership crisis triggered by a former national chairman who attempted to reclaim office despite the expiration of his tenure.
Senator Usman reminded the audience that the dispute escalated to the Supreme Court, which in its April 4, 2025 judgment affirmed that the former chairman’s tenure had lapsed and unequivocally validated her leadership.
She stressed that despite the clarity of the judgment, some individuals in collusion with external forces continued to destabilize the party.
According to her, these external actors are ironically the same political forces who benefitted from the apex court’s decision against the Labour Party in the presidential petition.
She described their interference as part of a wider agenda to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria.
She disclosed that the confusion was further laid to rest on August 15, 2025, when a Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed that the former chairman’s tenure had expired.
That ruling, she said, aligned with both the earlier Supreme Court judgment and INEC’s affidavit, leaving no ambiguity about the leadership question.
Senator Usman assured members of the Labour Party that there is renewed hope under her stewardship.
She announced that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party has already approved several programs to strengthen the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among the plans, she revealed, is a comprehensive membership registration and revalidation drive, targeting the enrollment of 10 million new members across Nigeria.
The Interim Chairman also said the party would embark on a series of ward, local government, and state congresses, culminating in a national convention to elect substantive leaders.
According to her, these processes will be completed before the end of 2025 to ensure that the Labour Party is ready for the next electoral contest.
She acknowledged that defections by some elected officials had posed a serious challenge to the party in recent months.
While noting that intimidation and pressure from the ruling party played a role, she admitted that the Labour Party must take responsibility for some of the setbacks.
She explained that the rapid rise of the Labour Party in 2023 meant that in several cases, candidates were selected without adequate background checks.
She assured that such mistakes would not be repeated in the future.
Part of the ongoing reforms, she explained, is to ensure that only individuals who share the party’s values and philosophy will be allowed to contest on its platform.
She insisted that the Labour Party will no longer serve as a temporary shelter for opportunists, but as a permanent home for patriots committed to service and transformation.
Senator Usman emphasized that despite the setbacks, the Labour Party remains resilient.
She expressed optimism that the reforms currently underway will not only replicate but surpass the achievements recorded in the 2023 elections.
She called on Nigerian youths and party faithful to move beyond passive observation and commit themselves to active participation in rebuilding the Labour Party.
She expressed gratitude to COPDEM for hosting the People’s Parliament and for providing what she described as a crucial platform for dialogue, accountability, and political engagement.
Senator Usman concluded her remarks with a message of encouragement, urging Nigerians not to lose faith in the Labour Party or in the democratic process.
She prayed for divine blessings upon the Labour Party, its members, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Political analysts note that her remarks at the COPDEM People’s Parliament mark one of her strongest public declarations since assuming the role of Interim Chairman.
Observers believe that her emphasis on unity, reforms, and youth participation is aimed at consolidating her authority within the party ahead of the national convention.
The Labour Party, which was once dismissed as a fringe party, continues to occupy a central place in Nigeria’s political discourse following its strong 2023 performance.
Analysts point out that if the party successfully resolves its leadership crisis and strengthens its internal structures, it could once again pose a serious challenge to the ruling establishment in 2027.
For many ordinary Nigerians, the Labour Party still represents the hope of a new political direction.
The outcome of its reform process and convention later this year will determine whether that hope can be sustained or squandered.
Senator Usman’s message at COPDEM suggests that she is determined to position the party for success.
Her leadership, validated by both the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court, has brought some stability to the party’s troubled hierarchy.
Yet, the bigger challenge remains: uniting its diverse members, protecting its elected officials from defections, and reconnecting with millions of supporters who rallied behind its movement in 2023.
As the countdown to 2027 intensifies, the Labour Party’s story will remain a major focus of Nigeria’s political landscape.
What happens within the party in the coming months will go a long way in shaping its destiny and Nigeria’s future.