The Labour Party State Chairmen Forum has rejected a proposed fresh congress reportedly scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the notice and take disciplinary action against Senator Nenadi Usman.
The forum, made up of all state chairmen elected during the party’s congresses held on December 6, 2025, described the memo notifying INEC of the planned congress as unconstitutional and contrary to existing laws.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the forum maintained that the purported memo, allegedly written by a caretaker committee, failed to comply with the Labour Party constitution and should therefore be dismissed by the electoral body.
According to Ifoh, the party had earlier clarified that Senator Usman was not a member of the Labour Party, accusing her of displaying ignorance of the party’s constitution in her communications with INEC.
He stressed that under the party’s constitution, only the National Executive Council (NEC) has the authority to determine the date, time and rules governing the conduct of congresses.
The statement further noted that executives elected at the state, local government and ward levels have a four-year tenure, making any attempt to organise another congress less than a year after the December 2025 exercise invalid.
Ifoh said INEC had already declined a similar request by Senator Usman to conduct congresses and had warned that the caretaker committee lacked the authority to act on behalf of the party.
He added that the commission’s position was contained in a letter dated February 16, 2025, which stated that it had no knowledge of any NEC meeting convened by the caretaker committee for the purpose of dissolving the existing leadership or electing new executives.
The forum described the attempt to initiate another memo to INEC, reportedly written on March 3, notifying the commission of plans to conduct a fresh congress, as “an action dead on arrival.”
It also argued that it was unlawful for a caretaker committee to dissolve duly elected executives and appoint new officials across the federation.
The chairmen insisted that Nigeria operates under the rule of law and that the tenure of elected officers in the Labour Party is guaranteed by the party’s constitution.
They therefore called on INEC to take firm measures against those behind the move and even consider designating an officer from the commission to oversee the affairs of the party if necessary.
The statement added that the Labour Party leadership had already appealed the Federal High Court judgment relating to the matter.
