The Labour Party State Chairmen Forum has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction Senator Nenadi Usman and her group for attempting to hold a fresh party congress.
In a statement, the party’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described a memo allegedly issued by the Labour Party Caretaker Committee proposing a congress from March 26, 2026, as unconstitutional and contrary to the laws governing political parties in Nigeria.
The Forum, comprising all state chairmen elected in congresses on December 6, 2025, noted that INEC had already refused Usman’s request to hold new congresses and warned that the caretaker committee cannot act on behalf of the party.
Ifoh emphasized that the party constitution vests the National Executive Committee (NEC) with the sole authority to set dates and rules for congresses. He added that state, local government, and ward executives serve four-year terms, meaning any attempt to hold new elections before their tenure expires is invalid.
“For instance, it is only NEC who is empowered by the party constitution to fix date, time and make rules for the conduct of congresses,” the statement read.
The State Chairmen Forum further urged INEC to consider appointing a designated officer to oversee Labour Party affairs, arguing that Usman’s March 3 memo was “dead on arrival.” The Forum condemned any caretaker committee action aimed at dismissing duly elected executives as unlawful, emphasizing that the tenure of elected officers is sacrosanct under the party constitution.
“Nigeria is not a lawless nation. There is no provision granting a caretaker committee the powers to dissolve elected party structures across the federation,” the Forum added.
