The Labour Party State Chairmen Forum, loyal to the Abure led leadership, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard a memo allegedly sent by the party’s Caretaker Committee seeking to conduct fresh party congresses beginning March 26, 2026.
According to the forum, the memo does not comply with the Labour Party constitution or the laws governing political parties in Nigeria.
The forum, which comprises all state chairmen elected during congresses held on December 6, 2025, also urged INEC to sanction Nenadi Usman and her group over the move.
INEC had earlier declined a request by Senator Usman to conduct congresses, warning that the Caretaker Committee lacks the authority to act on behalf of the party.
In a statement issued by the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party maintained that Senator Usman is not a member of the party, adding that her alleged ignorance of the party’s constitution is evident in her communications with INEC.
Ifoh stated that under the party’s constitution, only the National Executive Council (NEC) has the power to fix the date, time and guidelines for the conduct of congresses.
He also noted that the tenure of state, local government and ward executives is four years, arguing that any attempt to hold new congresses while the tenure of those elected in December 2025 is still valid contravenes the party’s constitution.
The forum referenced a letter from INEC dated February 16, 2025, which it said raised similar concerns.
It therefore urged the electoral commission to consider designating an official to oversee the affairs of the Labour Party in order to maintain order within the party.
The forum also described Senator Usman’s March 3 memo to INEC, notifying the commission of plans to conduct fresh congresses, as “dead on arrival.”
According to the statement, INEC had already indicated in its earlier correspondence that it had no record of a valid NEC meeting convened by the Caretaker Committee for the purpose of dissolving existing executives or electing new ones.
The group further argued that it would be unlawful for a caretaker committee to dissolve duly elected party executives and unilaterally appoint new caretakers across the federation.
“The tenure of elected officers is guaranteed under the Labour Party constitution, and there is no provision granting a caretaker committee the power to dissolve elected party structures nationwide,” the statement said.
It added that the leadership of the Labour Party has already appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court related to the matter.
