The leadership crisis within Nigeria’s Labour Party has taken another turn as the faction led by Julius Abure warned Senator Nenadi Usman against dissolving the party’s structures nationwide. The warning highlights growing tensions within the party as legal battles and rival claims to leadership continue ahead of the 2027 elections.

The leadership of the Labour Party under Julius Abure has cautioned that any attempt to dissolve the party’s elected ward, local government, and state executives would be unlawful.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure-led leadership said the caretaker committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman lacks the constitutional authority to replace existing party executives across the country.

The statement came in response to reports that the Usman-led faction was considering dissolving current party structures and appointing interim executives.
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The Abure faction also referenced a communication from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which it said rejected any move to dissolve party executives without following due constitutional procedures.

According to the statement, INEC stressed that the party’s National Executive Council could not dissolve ward, local government, and state executives without giving the statutory notice of its meeting to the electoral commission.

The commission reportedly indicated that such actions must comply with both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution before they can be recognised.

The Labour Party acknowledged that the dispute over its leadership is currently before the Court of Appeal, but said it was necessary to address what it described as misinformation circulating among party members.

The Abure-led leadership accused the Nenadi Usman faction of attempting to undermine the party’s constitution by proposing changes to the party structure without legal backing.

It further criticised the process that produced the caretaker committee, alleging that it was formed outside the party’s constitutional provisions.

The statement also alleged that the caretaker committee was constituted by a group of party stakeholders, including prominent figures such as Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

According to the Abure faction, such an arrangement does not have constitutional legitimacy within the party and therefore cannot replace existing executives.

The party leadership warned members to disregard what it described as attempts to mislead supporters about the legitimacy of the caretaker committee.

The ongoing dispute reflects deeper divisions within the Labour Party following its surge in popularity during the 2023 general elections, when Peter Obi emerged as a major political contender.

Analysts note that unresolved leadership conflicts could affect the party’s ability to consolidate its support base and prepare effectively for the 2027 general elections.

With the matter now before the appellate court, the final outcome could determine the future direction of one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing political parties.

For now, the Labour Party remains caught between rival leadership claims and legal disputes. The reality will be whether the courts can provide a decisive ruling that stabilises the party’s structure before preparations for the next national election cycle gather momentum. Without a clear resolution, the internal crisis risks weakening the political movement that gained significant public attention only a few years ago.