The Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party has endorsed Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as the party’s national leader.
9news Nigeria reports that the endorsement was made at a meeting of the party’s Interim National Working Committee held in Abuja and conveyed in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting by the factional National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha.
The development comes weeks after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, defected to the African Democratic Congress on December 31.
According to the communiqué, the meeting was convened to discuss issues affecting the party’s stability, growth, and strategic direction.
In a key resolution, the committee announced its unanimous recognition of Otti as the party’s national leader.
Nwokocha said, “The NWC, in a unanimous decision, affirmed its recognition of His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, as the National Leader of the Labour Party.”
He added that the meeting, chaired by Nenadi Usman, was held in line with the provisions of the Labour Party Constitution 2019 (as amended).
“The meeting was convened at a time of heightened political engagement across the country, ahead of the party’s congresses and the forthcoming National Convention,” Nwokocha stated.
The communiqué noted that deliberations at the meeting included field reports from the ongoing nationwide membership revalidation and registration exercise, preparations for the party’s congresses and national convention, as well as developments surrounding Obi’s exit from the party.
Addressing the defection, the NWC said it bore no ill feelings toward the former presidential candidate.
“The National leadership of the Labour Party wishes His Excellency Mr Peter Obi well in his future political endeavours and in his new political party,” Nwokocha said.
He insisted, however, that the party remained united and ideologically driven.
“The Labour Party remains united, indivisible, indissoluble, and steadfast in its mission to build a Nigeria founded on equal opportunity, social justice, and good governance,” he added.
The Usman-led leadership also welcomed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s reaffirmation of the Supreme Court judgment of April 4, 2025, which removed Julius Abure as national chairman of the party.
Based on the ruling, the faction urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to fully recognise the current leadership.
It called on INEC “to accord Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha all rights, recognition, and privileges attached to the office of National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party, in strict compliance with the rule of law and the Supreme Court judgment.”
