Ex-minister Nenadi Usman emerges LP caretaker chair; Abure-led NWC objects

The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) deepened yesterday as the party’s sole governor, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State, and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined other members in electing former Finance Minister Mrs. Nenadi Usman as the caretaker chairman of the party.

Daniel Gambo, a member of the national transition committee formed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), confirmed this development to journalists on Wednesday. He stated that Mrs. Usman was unanimously elected to lead the 29-member national caretaker committee.

The meeting took place at the Banquet Hall of the Abia Government House in Umuahia, the state capital. Convened by Governor Otti, the meeting was attended by key figures, including Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, among others.

“The stakeholders met at the Banquet Hall of Abia State Government House, where Senator Nenadi Usman was unanimously nominated to chair the newly constituted LP caretaker committee. This committee will oversee the conduct of state congresses and the all-inclusive national convention. The secretary is Hon. Darlington Onwokocha,” Gambo said.

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He also noted that the 29-member committee includes representatives from the Senate, House of Representatives, the six geopolitical zones, the NLC, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

However, the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has rejected the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting, calling it illegal and unconstitutional.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the NWC declared, “As clearly stated in our previous statement, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and all others who gathered in Umuahia have no authority under the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, or even the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convene any meeting of the party.”

The statement continued, “Moreover, the expanded stakeholders’ meeting is not an organ recognised by the party’s constitution. The premise on which Governor Alex Otti called the meeting is not only flawed but also mischievous. Government business is conducted through official communication and correspondences, not verbally.