Power Struggle in Labour Party: Nenadi, NLC, Apapa Move to Unseat Abure

The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) intensified on Wednesday as three power blocs – the Esther Nenadi-Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and factional leader Lamidi Apapa – made decisive moves to wrest control from embattled National Chairman Julius Abure.

The flurry of actions followed last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, which cast doubt on Abure’s continued leadership of the party.

Backed by LP’s only governor, Alex Otti of Abia State, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, the Nenadi-led NCC convened a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, attended by federal and state lawmakers elected under the party’s platform. Following the meeting, the trio visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters to present a Certified True Copy of the court ruling and urged the Commission to derecognize Abure as the party’s national chairman.

Abure, however, remained defiant, describing the moves against him as a plot to hijack the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections. “I remain the legitimate leader of the Labour Party,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, the Nenadi faction is proceeding with its own primary election today to select a candidate for the upcoming Anambra governorship poll. This comes a week after Abure’s group had named former NIWA Managing Director, George Moghalu, as the LP flag bearer.

The Nigeria Labour Congress added another layer to the crisis by instructing its state councils to take over LP offices nationwide. The NLC also demanded the appointment of an interim leadership to organize a special national convention, warning that any deviation from this process would be resisted.

In another twist, Lamidi Apapa, a former Deputy National Chairman (South), resurfaced in Ibadan to reclaim the party’s national leadership. Citing the Supreme Court ruling, Apapa declared Abure’s post-April 2023 decisions null and void and announced that the party’s 2022 National Working Committee would meet next Monday to chart a new course.

Governor Otti, citing excerpts from the Supreme Court judgment, said it validated the legitimacy of the Nenadi-led NCC, adding that Abure’s tenure had long expired. “We even offered him the BoT chairmanship, but he insisted on staying,” Otti revealed.

Peter Obi supported the call for a bottom-up reformation of the party. “Let everyone go back to the ward level and follow due process. Everyone is free to contest,” he said, while reiterating his loyalty to the LP and debunking rumors of defection.

Nenadi-Usman, on her part, emphasized the importance of unity and reconciliation despite the ruling being in her faction’s favor.

At INEC, the delegation was received by Acting Chairman Sam Olumekun. Discussions reportedly focused on the implications of the Supreme Court decision and the need for institutional clarity within the LP. Olumekun reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality and the rule of law.

In a separate statement, Apapa declared that he had assumed the role of acting national chairman, citing Article 14 of the LP constitution. He promised to revive the party’s dormant Board of Trustees and announced that leadership positions would soon be zoned.

The NLC, through its President Joe Ajaero, accused Abure of undermining democratic norms and warned of consequences should he continue to defy the court’s ruling. The union called on INEC to purge all references to Abure from its records and urged security agencies to enforce the Supreme Court decision.

“The days of mischief are over,” the NLC said. “We will repossess all LP offices peacefully but firmly. Nigerian workers and genuine party members will no longer tolerate impunity.”

As all three camps dig in, the Labour Party faces its greatest internal test since its rise to national prominence during the 2023 general elections. The battle for control could shape the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 polls.