Otti’s Labour Party Group Files New Leadership

A faction of the Labour Party aligned with Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi has sent a new 34-member list of its Interim National Working Committee to the electoral commission, intensifying the party’s ongoing leadership contest.

The updated list, signed by Interim National Chairman Nenadi Usman and Interim National Secretary Darlington Nwokocha, was described as superseding all previously submitted lists, including those recently forwarded by Julius Abure.

The faction reminded the commission that the interim leadership emerged from resolutions of the party’s NEC meeting in July and was constituted in line with the party’s constitution, which empowered them to fill out the full interim structure.

The list includes Deputy National Chairmen representing the TUC, NLC and female wing, as well as several other senior officials.

This submission came barely a day after the Abure-led camp held its own NEC meeting in Abuja, attended by electoral officials and senior party figures, reaffirming Abure as national chairman. That meeting cited Supreme Court judgements which stated that internal party leadership matters are not subject to judicial intervention.

Abure said NEC members resolved to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections, fill vacant leadership positions and approve the conduct of congresses nationwide. Several officers were retained, while new appointments were made to fill vacant roles.

The party expressed appreciation to the electoral commission for helping stabilise the organisation and commended its members and the media for standing with the party through its internal disputes.

At the meeting, the party’s vice-presidential candidate in the last general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, reaffirmed that the party remains committed to welfarism and assured that Nigerians’ welfare would be prioritised if the party wins future elections. He also clarified that Peter Obi remains a member of the party.