Abuja, Nigeria – Fresh confusion has erupted within the following a response from the (INEC) rejecting the attempt by the Senator –led Caretaker Committee to dissolve existing party executives across the country.
According to a leaked memo from the caretaker committee’s office in Abuja, INEC informed the committee that it lacks the constitutional authority to dissolve duly elected Ward, Local Government, and State executives of the party or replace them with interim leadership structures.
The commission’s position was contained in a letter dated February 16, 2026, signed by the INEC Secretary, , with reference number INEC/DEPM/LP/283/IV/36. The letter was sent in response to an earlier request by the caretaker committee seeking recognition for the dissolution of party structures nationwide and the appointment of interim State Working Committees.
INEC stated that the request could not be granted because the purported dissolution was carried out without the statutory notice required to be given to the commission and without proper authority under the party’s constitution.
“The commission regrets to inform you that the dissolution of State, Local Government and Ward Executives of your Party in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory by the National Executive Council without giving the statutory notice of the meeting to the Commission and without the authority to act in your Party Constitution cannot be acceded to,” the letter read.
The development has reportedly rattled members of the caretaker committee who are now uncertain about how to proceed, particularly as the majority of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), including most state chairmen and secretaries, remain loyal to the party’s National Chairman, .
The crisis comes despite the fact that the Labour Party successfully conducted Ward, Local Government, and State congresses between December 2 and 6, 2025, under the supervision and approval of INEC. However, the exercise did not hold in Abia State after a State High Court restrained the party from proceeding with the congress pending the determination of a case filed against the state leadership.
Political observers note that the party has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership dispute since September 4, 2024, when a faction led by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, , and Abia State Governor, , challenged the authority of the Abure-led leadership during a controversial stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia.
Several legal battles followed the fallout from that meeting, with judgments up to the Supreme Court reportedly favouring the Abure-led leadership. However, the crisis took a new twist on January 21, 2026, when a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory delivered a ruling recognizing Nenadi Usman as the valid leader of the party and directing INEC to do the same. That decision has since been appealed.
The leadership tussle further escalated when the Nenadi Usman faction reportedly took control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja with the support of security agencies, displacing Abure and his loyalists despite a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution.
With INEC refusing to recognise the dissolution of state party structures, the caretaker committee now faces a major political and legal hurdle. Observers say calling a properly constituted NEC meeting could further complicate matters, as members loyal to Abure are believed to be in the majority and could potentially pass a vote of no confidence on the caretaker leadership.
The situation is particularly delicate in Abia State, where internal disputes prevented the conduct of party congresses. Analysts warn that if the issue remains unresolved, it could affect the party’s ability to participate effectively in future electoral processes in the state, including the 2027 governorship election.
Efforts to obtain reactions from Senator Nenadi Usman and the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, , were unsuccessful as of press time. Similarly, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, , did not respond to inquiries sent via WhatsApp.
Meanwhile, a party stakeholder, Comrade Usman Aliu, has called for an urgent and peaceful resolution of the crisis, warning that the ongoing dispute could permanently damage the party’s political relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It is unbelievable that with the political season approaching, some individuals are still bent on weakening the party,” he said. “If urgent steps are not taken to resolve this impasse, the crisis could consume the party entirely.”
