The Labour Party Candidates’ Forum has reaffirmed its support for Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, urging party members to close ranks and work towards restoring unity amid the protracted leadership dispute rocking the opposition party.
The position was reiterated during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the forum, representing candidates from different parts of the country, to the party’s national leadership.
Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, the Labour Party’s candidate for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, disclosed the development in a social media post, saying the delegation commended the party’s leadership for its efforts to preserve its unity and institutional integrity.
According to Ezeh, the forum expressed confidence in the leadership of Usman and Nwokocha, while reaffirming its commitment to the party’s continued existence as a platform for political participation.
The delegation, he said, maintained that the Supreme Court’s judgment of April 4, 2025, had addressed a critical aspect of the party’s leadership dispute and urged members to move beyond the crisis.
It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite action on the formal recognition of the party’s leadership in its official records.
The forum expressed appreciation for what it described as INEC’s principled handling of the dispute and urged the commission to update its portal to reflect the names of Usman and Nwokocha in their respective leadership positions.
It further cautioned Labour Party elected officials against using the leadership crisis as a justification for abandoning the party, insisting that internal disagreements should not be allowed to undermine its political fortunes.
The forum urged party members and supporters nationwide to remain committed to the party and sustain confidence in its future, despite the challenges confronting its leadership.
It also reaffirmed its support for Abia State Governor Alex Otti, whom it described as a key figure in the party’s leadership structure.
The renewed show of support comes against the backdrop of prolonged disagreements over the leadership of the Labour Party following the dispute involving the faction led by former National Chairman Julius Abure and the leadership associated with Usman.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court struck out a suit seeking to compel INEC to recognise Abure as the party’s national chairman. Subsequent proceedings at the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal further shaped the legal contest over the party’s leadership.
However, the dispute has continued to generate competing claims over the party’s leadership and its relationship with the electoral commission.
The forum’s latest intervention is expected to reinforce calls for reconciliation and organisational stability as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Ezeh said the forum remained optimistic about the party’s future, urging supporters to remain resolute as efforts to resolve lingering disagreements continue.
The forum maintained that unity, respect for the rule of law and collective commitment would be essential to preserving the Labour Party as a viable political platform.
