From John Akubo, Adamu Abuh (Abuja), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna)
• Abure’s camp jittery, alleges illegal primaries in Anambra
• Claims Obi and Otti’s attempts to hijack party structure stem from desperation
• Insists on Moghalu as Anambra gubernatorial candidate, warns against fresh primaries
As the internal leadership conflicts within the Labour Party (LP) settle following Supreme Court rulings, the party is stepping confidently into a new era. Acting National Chairperson Sen. Nenadi Usman has announced a comprehensive “total rebuild” of the party, emphasizing unity, strength, and a renewed purpose. Yesterday, the LP’s Anambra State chapter held its primary to select a candidate for the upcoming governorship election on November 8, 2025.
However, a faction within the party has accused the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi of attempting to hijack the party’s direction. This faction asserts that George Moghalu remains the legitimate candidate for the Anambra governorship and has warned against any new primaries, stating they have already submitted Moghalu’s nomination to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In her address to party members following a critical National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Usman emphasized the LP’s readiness for transformation, stating, “Now is not the time for distraction or division; it is the time to build.”
The April 9, 2025, NEC meeting featured prominent party figures, including Otti, Obi, his running mate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, elected lawmakers, labor leaders, and representatives from the Obidient Movement.
Usman’s rise to the position of Acting National Chair was solidified by a unanimous vote of confidence from the NEC, concluding a prolonged power struggle that had overshadowed the party’s post-2023 momentum. She pledged to foster a new era of internal democracy, inclusion, and strategic preparation for upcoming elections.
In a statement from former National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the faction distanced itself from any primary or results not sanctioned by the party’s constitution and called for an immediate halt to any actions that undermine legitimate processes.
Following Moghalu’s election, rival John Nwosu withdrew from the earlier election, citing irregularities and concerns regarding the Abure faction’s competence, which had been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
National Secretary of the faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, commented from Kaduna, highlighting, “The leadership of LP has been alerted to an unauthorized NEC meeting convened by Otti and Obi, where they continue to indulge in an unrealistic narrative.” He accused them of showing alarming desperation in their attempts to seize the party structure.
In an additional statement, Ifoh alerted the public and INEC to alleged illegal primaries being conducted for the Anambra governorship by certain party members. He pointed out that INEC had mandated that all political parties complete their primaries by April 10, 2025, by Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. Furthermore, Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 requires parties to adhere to guidelines that allow INEC to effectively monitor the primaries.
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