LP re-elects Nenadi Usman as national chairman

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Labour Party (LP) affirmed Dr. Nenadi Usman as its substantive national chairman.

At the ceremony in Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday, she was elected through consensus. Before her election, Usman was the national chairman of the caretaker committee of the party.

At the convention, Chief Iheanacho Obioma was elected national secretary to replace Senator Darlington Nwokocha. Until his election, Obioma was political adviser to Governor Alex Otti.

Other 32 national officers of the party were also elected at the Convention.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Usman said the process of building the party, especially with the adoption of a new constitution is not easy, but promised to excel.

“With the ratification of a new constitution for the party, the job is not going to be easy, but we are going to excel. We will work cooperatively to develop the party and make it one to be reckoned with in the country.”

She particularly thanked the leader of the party and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, for the confidence he reposed in her and promised not to fail.

Giving an overview of the party’s Caretaker Committee earlier, Dr. Usman said: “My Committee emerged out of a vacuum in the leadership of the party. Despite clear judgments of courts up to the Supreme Court, those against the survival of the party never gave up. “Even when INEC recognised our leadership, the same people are still not yielding.

“It was after the judicial confirmation of our leadership that preparations for the Convention commenced. Before then, we had conducted LG and state congresses.”

Governor Otti expressed joy that the convention was devoid of rancour and disagreement.

Otti said the fact that all parts of the country was represented in the 34-member new executive was an indication that the Labour Party is truly a national party.

He said it was a thing of happiness to note that men and women who know their onions were elected.

Otti advised the new executive to reposition the party and embark on reconciliation moves to bring back those who left for one reason or the other and equally engage in registration drives.

The governor described the national chairman as a woman of integrity, transparency and accountability and promised to give the new executive 100 percent support for them to succeed.