On Wednesday, the Labour Party announced the formation of a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman. Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the Immediate-Past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, was appointed as the Secretary of the committee. This committee is tasked with overseeing the election of new party leadership within the next 90 days.
The decision to establish the caretaker committee was made at the Labour Party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting, held at the Government House in Umuahia. Ukoha Njoku, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Abia State, released a statement detailing the outcomes of the meeting.
The committee’s responsibilities include organizing Ward, Local Government, State Congresses, and a National Convention in line with the Labour Party’s Constitution. The meeting confirmed the necessity of the caretaker committee to prevent a leadership vacuum within the party.
The committee will consist of representatives from various groups, including three Senators, four House of Representatives members, three State House of Assembly members, three Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members, three Trade Union Congress (TUC) members, and three gubernatorial candidates from the last election, among others.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, who hosted the meeting, emphasized that the gathering aimed to address pressing issues facing the party and to determine a path forward. He noted that the term of the previous National Working Committee (NWC) led by Barrister Julius Abure had expired on June 10, 2024.
Governor Otti urged all party stakeholders to collaborate in resolving the internal challenges of the party, focusing on the party’s survival rather than the specific composition of the new NWC.
Peter Obi, the National Leader of the Labour Party and the 2023 presidential candidate, supported the establishment of the caretaker committee, stating that it is a necessary step to prevent the party’s collapse. Obi expressed confidence that with the right management, the Labour Party, being the third largest party in Nigeria, has the potential to excel. He encouraged party members to support the caretaker committee to ensure its success.
Senator Nenadi Usman, responding on behalf of the caretaker committee members, thanked Peter Obi and other stakeholders for their trust and assured that the committee would fulfill its mandate effectively.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of support for Peter Obi’s leadership and a resolution for members involved in legal disputes with the party to withdraw their cases for the party’s overall benefit.
