… Reaffirms Abure Leadership
The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party Nigeria took a fresh turn on Tuesday as the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) announced the dissolution of the Esther Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee, citing what it described as “incalculable damage” to the party.
In a statement issued after a virtual NEC meeting held on 17 March 2026, the council also reaffirmed its confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure.
The resolution was contained in a release signed by the NEC Forum’s Secretary, Alhaji Abdulrahim Imam Chindo.
According to the statement, “NEC in session reviewed the activities of the Caretaker Committee and concluded that it had done incalculable damage to the Party since its inception illegally.”
It added that “NEC consequently dissolved the Esther Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee.”
The NEC further expressed its continued support for the Abure-led leadership, stating: “NEC in session reaffirms its confidence in the National Working Committee led by Barrister Julius Abure, elected in the National Convention held on the 27th March 2024 and reaffirmed by the NEC meeting of the Party held on the 28th of November 2025, monitored by INEC.”
The meeting, held virtually, was attended by state chairmen and secretaries elected on 6 December 2025, along with other prominent members of the party.
The council also directed the party leadership to begin preparations for the 2027 general elections. It called on Abure to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the conduct of party primaries in line with the electoral timetable.
“NEC in session further mandated Barrister Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim to issue the relevant notices to INEC for the conduct of Primaries for the 2027 General Election in line with INEC timetable when the Federal High Court judgment is set aside,” the statement read.
In addition, the NEC mandated Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim to appeal to the Court of Appeal to overturn a Federal High Court judgment delivered on 21 January 2026 by Justice Peter Lifu.
The statement noted: “NEC in session mandated Barrister Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim to pursue the appeal pending at the Court of Appeal in order to set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on the 21st January 2026.”
The council also moved to invalidate previous actions taken by the dissolved caretaker committee, stating: “NEC nullified all notices hitherto issued to INEC by the Esther Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee.”
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