- Usman said Labour Party has approved membership revalidation drive, targeting ten million new members ahead of the 2027 elections.
- She announced ward, local government and state congresses will culminate in a national convention to elect substantive leadership.
Factional interim chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has accused some politicians of colluding with outsiders to weaken the party.
The former minister of finance made the allegation while addressing participants at the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy’s virtual people’s parliament on Monday.
She recalled that the Labour Party, formed in 2002, altered Nigeria’s political equation during the 2023 general elections with what she described as a historic outing.
According to her, that performance clearly demonstrated that Nigerians were eager for change and ready to embrace an alternative platform.
Usman lamented that despite court pronouncements, certain figures continued to challenge her leadership and undermine the unity of the party.
“Our internal restructuring was interrupted when a former chairman, whose tenure had already lapsed, sought to return to office,” she said.
“The Supreme Court, however, settled the matter on April 4, 2025, when it affirmed my position as interim chairman.”
She alleged that those still contesting her leadership were being sponsored by forces who had once benefited from the apex court’s dismissal of the party’s presidential petition.
“This is not only about destabilising the Labour Party but part of a wider plot against opposition parties across the country,” Usman added.
Turning to the party’s future, the interim chair disclosed that preparations were underway to reposition the platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
She explained that the National Executive Council had approved a membership revalidation drive targeting 10 million new supporters nationwide.
In addition, ward, local government and state congresses would be conducted, leading to a national convention where a substantive leadership would emerge.
“Our commitment is that all these activities will be completed before the end of this year to ensure readiness for 2027,” she assured.
Reflecting on past challenges, Usman admitted that the Labour Party’s rapid expansion in 2023 allowed opportunists to secure tickets without proper scrutiny.
She promised that new reforms would prevent such situations, stressing that only committed members who shared the party’s values would be allowed to contest.
“The Labour Party is not a springboard for opportunists,” she declared. “It is a political home for patriots ready to serve and transform society.”
While admitting the party had faced difficulties, she maintained that the current reforms would enable it not just to match, but surpass, its 2023 achievements.
The interim chair also charged young Nigerians to stop playing the role of spectators and instead actively contribute to shaping the Labour Party’s future.