By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) intensified at the weekend as rival factions issued conflicting statements over the party’s leadership and its relationship with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Julius Abure-led faction dismissed claims that INEC’s decision to withhold access codes ahead of the February 18, 2026 FCT Area Council elections was connected to leadership disputes within the party.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the faction said INEC’s clarification only addressed pending court cases relating to the FCT polls and its decision to await judicial outcomes before releasing access codes.
The group accused a suspended member and former senator, Darlington Nwokocha, of misrepresenting INEC’s position, alleging impersonation and deliberate misinformation by what it described as a non-existent caretaker committee.
It insisted that there is “no vacancy” in the party’s National Secretariat, stressing that INEC’s statement did not reference the leadership of the Labour Party in any form.
The Abure-led faction said INEC has continued to engage officially with its leadership, citing invitations to consultative meetings, issuance of access codes for recent governorship elections, and monitoring of NEC meetings and congresses nationwide.
According to the faction, these actions confirm INEC’s recognition of Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the duly registered National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
It further argued that no court has nullified the party’s March 27, 2024 National Convention, adding that the Supreme Court judgment in SC/CV/56/2025 merely affirmed that party leadership matters are internal and non-justiciable.
In contrast, a rival National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator Nenadi Usman announced the unanimous recognition of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, as the National Leader of the Labour Party.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued after an NWC meeting held on January 7, 2026, where members reviewed preparations for congresses, the National Convention and ongoing membership revalidation.
The Nenadi Usman-led NWC welcomed an INEC press release of January 7, 2026, which it said reaffirmed a Supreme Court ruling that the tenure of Julius Abure as national chairman had elapsed.
The faction urged INEC to accord Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha full recognition as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, while insisting that the party remains united, reform-driven and committed to expanding its national membership base.
