Nnenadi Usman Takes Over Labour Party Secretariat, Julius Abure’s Men Locked Out

• NLC: why labour can’t join any coalition

• Says it must be on 2027 presidential ballot 

• Party appoints 19-member interim c’ttee to rebuild Rivers State

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

There was a seamless change of guard at the national secretariat of Labour Party (LP) yesterday, as Senator Nnenadi Usman took over affairs of the party.

Equally, yesterday, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, a representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), explained at the event why LP could not join any coalition.

Deputy Governor of Abia State, Dr. Ikechukwu Eme-zu, also hinted that LP would present a presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Senator Darlington Nwokocha arrived the party’s national secretariat about 11: 10am and was ushered in with other officials of the party by officers of the Nigeria Police.

They were guarded by a team of policemen led by a Chief Superintendent of Police from the Utako Police Division. The police came in four vans and two Toyota cars.

National secretary of the Abure faction, Farooq Umar, was not allowed to enter the party secretariat.

Umar said he learnt that a team of policemen swoop on the party secretariat Monday night and drove away their internal security.

THISDAY observed some carpenters changing the locks at the party secretariat and fixing new ones, while the police kept watch.

Speaking after assuming full control, Usman said, “We took over the party secretariat in compliance with the orders of the federal high court. We have put behind us the leadership struggle. We plan to settle down and see how we will move the party forward.

“Our utmost duty now is to continue with the party’s e-registration exercise as well as the preparation for the congresses at all levels and the national convention.”

Usman also spoke on the relationship between LP, NLC, and Trade Union Congress (TUC), saying, “I think we are very practical and cordial as far as the Labour Party is concerned.

“Professor Ndubuogu is a serious and major stakeholder in the Nigeria Labour Congress. He is a representative here and the TUC representative will almost be here in the next few minutes.

“So we don’t have any problem. We held our next meeting a few days ago. It was quite all-encompassing, very rich meeting we had. So we have no problem within our rank and file at all.  Everything is working together.”

Fielding questions from newsmen, the deputy governor of Abia State, who represented Governor Alex Otti, said though the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, had defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC), “the Labour Party will certainly present a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.”

He explained that as the chairman of Labour Party e-validation committee, they would commence the electronic and manual registration of members preparatory to the national convention.

The representative of NLC, Ndubuaku, explained why LP would not join any coalition in the run off to the 2027 elections.

He said, “The Labour Party as presently constituted is made up of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as institutionalised members of the Labour Party and as such cannot be members of any coalition.”

LP National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, ruled out Obi, saying, “Peter Obi is a principled politician and he has moved on.”

Meanwhile, the LP National Working Commit-tee (NWC) appointed a 19-man Interim State Working Committee to oversee the party’s affairs in Rivers State.

The appointment was announced in a statement jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, and National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha.

The statement said Fredrick Nwoje was appointed Chairman, with Precious Nwogu, Godfrey Otamiri, Anthony Wachukwu, Nyeche Wodike, Lawyer Thompson, and Nwiwagbo Harry serving as Deputy Chairmen. Chioma Atandikiari was named Secretary.

Other members of the committee were Chinedu Christian Anele and Bright Odum as Assistant Secretaries; Sampson Nwoka, Financial Secretary; Afoma Jonathan, Treasurer; Dr. Victor Tubo, Publicity Secretary; Onusaka Saineimi, Youth Leader; Bekenwari Bob-Manual, Women Leader; Akahaa Egonu as Deputy Women Leader; Ojukwu Christian, Auditor; Mills Orlu Orlu, Legal Adviser; and Ogoya Princewill, Organising Secretary.

The statement said the interim leadership was expected to begin the process of rebuilding and strengthening the party in Rivers State.