The Labour Party (LP) has formally appointed former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, as its Interim National Chairman, following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The meeting, convened by statutory members of the NEC, marked a pivotal leadership transition for the party and came in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling delivered on April 4, 2025.
The court decision affirmed the expiration of the tenure of former National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, and validated Senator Usman’s position as caretaker leader of the party. The NEC session also aimed to stabilize the party’s leadership structure and chart the course toward internal reforms and congresses ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the high-level meeting were key political and labour stakeholders, including Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti; Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu; and notable members of the organized labour movement. Among them were the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; NLC National Woman Leader, Comrade Deborah Yusuf; NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja (mni); Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary, Comrade General N.A. Toro; and TUC President, Comrade Engr. Festus Osifo.
The Chairman of the Labour Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief S.O.Z. Ejiofor, was represented at the gathering, and his position was officially endorsed by the BoT Secretary, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed.
During the session, the NEC also ratified the appointment of Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the immediate past Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, as the Interim National Secretary. Together with Senator Usman, the duo will lead the party through a transitional period pending the conduct of congresses and a national convention to elect substantive officers.
A joint communiqué was issued and signed by party and labour leaders in attendance. Signatories included Governor Otti and Deputy Governor Emetu, Chief S.O.Z. Ejiofor, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed, Comrade Joe Ajaero, Comrade Deborah Yusuf, Comrade Ugboaja, Comrade N.A. Toro, and Comrade Festus Osifo. The newly constituted Interim National Working Committee (INWC), represented by Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, also appended their signatures.
In the communiqué, the party leadership unequivocally dismissed any speculation regarding a potential political merger or alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, affirming its commitment to maintaining ideological clarity and organizational independence.
The Labour Party, under its interim leadership, now moves toward a period of restructuring and consolidation, as it prepares for an inclusive national convention aimed at reinvigorating its presence ahead of the next electoral cycle.
