LP Crisis Deepens: Abure, Usman Clash Over INEC De-Registration Claim

Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has dismissed claims made by the party’s Interim National Chairperson, Senator Nenadi Usman, regarding the party’s deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

In a statement issued by the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party labeled Senator Usman’s claims as unfounded and false.

According to Ifoh, the Labour Party is currently in good standing and has complied fully with the laws, meaning there is no risk of deregistration by INEC.

The statement also accused some party leaders of misrepresenting INEC’s views, falsely suggesting that the tenure of the party’s current executives had expired.

Ifoh pointed out the irony of these leaders, who had previously criticized INEC for its handling of the 2023 general election, now using INEC’s stance to undermine the current leadership.

The Labour Party reiterated that the recent meeting held on September 4 in Umuahia, where Senator Usman’s group emerged, was unconstitutional.

Ifoh emphasized that the group had no legitimate standing within the party, and its existence is not recognized by INEC or any legal framework in the country.

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Furthermore, Ifoh dismissed Senator Usman’s claim that her faction had saved the Labour Party from deregistration, calling it baseless.

He clarified that the party’s existence is not under any threat, and referenced recent court rulings.

These rulings, including judgments from Appeal Courts in Edo state and the Federal Capital Territory, confirmed Julius Abure as the legitimate National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Additionally, Ifoh mentioned a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, where Justice J.K. Omotosho declared that the party’s national convention held on March 26, 2024, was valid and conducted in accordance with the 2022 Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

This ruling further solidified the leadership of the current executives.

The Labour Party also reminded Senator Usman of previous Supreme Court judgments that emphasized that matters related to national conventions and internal party affairs are outside the jurisdiction of the courts.

The statement warned that attempts by Senator Usman and her supporters to influence INEC’s decisions would be futile, as INEC is bound to follow the law.

At the same time, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has warned that youth unemployment in Africa is projected to reach 300 million within the next six years, describing the forecast as alarming.

Speaking at the launch of the Africa Youth Employment Clock in Abuja, Onyejeocha emphasized that this figure is not merely a statistic, but represents countless unfulfilled dreams, untapped potential, and socio-economic challenges that could undermine the stability and development of nations across the continent.