Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) has drawn a firm line under the disputes surrounding its 2024 national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State—reaffirming the leadership elected there and approving a raft of decisions aimed at stabilising the party ahead of 2027.
The resolutions, jointly signed by National Chairman Julius Abure and National Secretary Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, were released to journalists in Abuja after a well-attended NEC meeting. Members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state chairmen and secretaries, national officers, and other stakeholders were present. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also monitored the session.
Reading out the resolutions, Abure said the council had taken a comprehensive look at the controversies that trailed the March 27, 2024 convention, including pending litigations and INEC’s position on the matter. He noted that recent Supreme Court pronouncements had provided clarity on the limits of judicial interference in internal party affairs.
Citing the 2025 Supreme Court decision in Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors, the NEC stressed that political parties are self-governing organisations bound by their constitutions. “Members are obligated to comply with party rules they freely subscribed to,” the council stated, adding that this formed the basis for reaffirming all officers elected at the Nnewi convention.
Among those retained are:
– Julius Abure, National Chairman
– Clement Ojukwu, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi and Esther Gulmu, Deputy National Chairmen
– Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, National Secretary
– Ngozi Doga, National Treasurer
– Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary
– Kennedy Ahanotu, National Youth Leader
The NEC also approved new appointments to fill vacant NWC slots, naming Oluwafemi Arabambi as National Vice Chairman (South-West), Favour Reuben as Assistant National Organising Secretary, and Enu Kikawa as Assistant National Woman Leader (South-South).
Another key decision was the mandate given to the chairman and secretary to convene a special convention whenever required, as well as the ratification of plans to conduct ward, local government, and state congresses nationwide.
The party applauded INEC’s role in “restoring peace” by recognising the leadership emerging from the convention and thanked loyal members and the media for standing firm during the party’s turbulent internal disputes. According to the NEC, these collective efforts have helped stabilise the Labour Party and “make it an institution capable of standing on its own against all odds.”
Also speaking at the meeting, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, described the party as fundamentally welfarist and insisted that a Labour Party government in 2027 would prioritise the wellbeing of Nigerians. He also cleared the air on the status of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, saying Obi “is still part of the party.”
