The statutory National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has elected Senator Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairperson and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as Interim National Secretary. They will lead the newly constituted interim National Working Committee (NWC).

The appointments were made during the NEC meeting held on Friday in Abuja. The interim NWC will oversee party activities until a national convention is held to elect a new NEC.

The meeting also approved the schedule for ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses, as well as the party’s National Convention. The LP National Secretariat has been mandated to publish the election guidelines and timelines to ensure a transparent and democratic process at all levels.

Notable attendees at the meeting included Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the LP’s only sitting governor.

Ajaero described the Labour Party as a party of the ordinary people and urged members not to be discouraged by internal challenges.

“Anyone who is not aligned with the Labour movement and claims to be the party’s chairperson is merely daydreaming. When the time comes, we will say we don’t know you,” Governor Otti told attendees.

He added: “The council that formed this party is still with you. We have not abandoned the party. What we need now is to restructure and rebrand it to ensure it functions effectively.”

Otti further explained that the statutory NEC meeting was held in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s national chairperson. He called on the Julius Abure-led faction to respect the court’s decision.

“As law-abiding citizens, we are here to implement that judgment by formalising key structures, including the interim NWC, which will manage the party until a proper convention is held,” he stated.

The governor also acknowledged the NLC’s founding role in the party but noted that the Labour Party has now grown beyond its origins.

He called for unity among party members, urging them to set aside internal conflicts and work together for the LP’s growth and success.