The Labour Party has appointed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as its Caretaker Committee Chairman, following a stakeholders meeting led by Peter Obi and Alex Otti. The committee aims to resolve leadership disputes within 90 days. However, embattled chairman Julius Abure rejects the decision, calling it unconstitutional and illegal.
The Labour Party has taken a significant step toward resolving its internal leadership crisis by appointing Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the Caretaker Committee Chairman. The decision was made at a high-level stakeholder meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, attended by prominent figures like former presidential candidate Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, who was named Secretary of the newly formed 29-member committee. The committee has been tasked with addressing leadership challenges within 90 days, leading to a national convention for electing new leaders at all levels.
The move, however, has sparked controversy within the party. Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman, has rejected the legitimacy of the caretaker committee, claiming that its formation is unconstitutional and illegal. Speaking through the party's National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure argued that the committee disregards the outcome of a valid national convention held earlier this year in Nnewi. He criticized Governor Otti for convening the meeting, calling it "mischievous" and lacking legal authority under the party’s constitution.
The unfolding leadership dispute highlights the challenges Labour Party faces as it seeks to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections. As the party navigates through its internal strife, the role of key figures like Peter Obi and other stakeholders remains critical to the party’s future direction and electoral strategy. Whether the caretaker committee will succeed in stabilizing the party remains to be seen.
