The Labour Party has plunged deeper into internal crisis as rival factions clash over the legitimacy of a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that extended the tenure of key party officials.

At the centre of the controversy is Senator Nenadi Usman, who was affirmed by a faction of the NEC as Interim National Chairman, with Senator Darlington Nwokocha also retaining his position as Interim National Secretary. The meeting, convened in Abuja, also approved a political roadmap that includes ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses, as well as a national convention to elect permanent party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the Julius Abure-led faction has dismissed the meeting as illegal and unconstitutional. They argue that there is no leadership vacuum in the party and that Abure remains the National Chairman until 2028. According to Abure’s loyalists, only a properly constituted NEC led by a substantive chairman and secretary has the authority to convene such meetings, and they accuse the Nenadi-led group of attempting to hijack the party.

In response, Darlington Nwokocha, speaking on behalf of the interim leadership, insisted that Abure’s tenure has expired. He also denied rumours of coalition talks with other parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), affirming that the Labour Party is focused on building its internal structures and preparing for future electoral contests.

This development underscores the widening rift within the party and raises concerns about its unity and readiness for the next general elections.