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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The State Chairmen Forum of the Labour Party on Monday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject a memo allegedly submitted by a controversial caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, notifying the commission of plans to conduct fresh party congresses from March 26.
The forum, which said it comprises all state chairmen elected during the party’s congresses held on December 6, 2025, also urged INEC to sanction Usman and members of the caretaker committee over what it described as an unlawful attempt to organise another round of congresses.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the forum argued that the planned congresses violate the party’s constitution and existing electoral guidelines.
According to the statement, INEC had earlier declined a request by Usman to conduct congresses and warned that the caretaker committee lacked the authority to act on behalf of the party.
Ifoh maintained that the party leadership had previously stated that Usman was not a member of the Labour Party, adding that her communications with the electoral commission demonstrated what he described as ignorance of the party’s constitution.
He explained that under the party’s constitution, only the National Executive Council (NEC) has the authority to fix the date, time and guidelines for the conduct of congresses.
He further noted that executives at the state, local government and ward levels have a tenure of four years, making any attempt to organise fresh congresses barely months after the December 2025 exercise unconstitutional.
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“The notice for another congress cannot be valid under the Labour Party constitution when the tenure of those elected in December 2025 still subsists,” he said.
Ifoh cited an INEC letter dated February 16 which, according to the party, rejected the caretaker committee’s earlier request.
The forum therefore asked the electoral commission to disregard what it described as a fresh memo dated March 3, 2026, notifying INEC of plans to hold new congresses beginning March 26.
To him, the forum also suggested that INEC should consider designating an official to oversee the party’s affairs in order to restore order within the party.
The statement described as unlawful any attempt by a caretaker committee to dissolve elected party structures and replace them with appointed officials.
“Tenure of elected officers is sacrosanct and guaranteed in the Labour Party constitution, and there is no provision granting a caretaker committee powers to dissolve elected party structures across the federation,” it added.
Ifoh also noted that the party leadership has appealed a judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria related to the dispute.
