Labour Party Sets May 23 for Presidential Primary
The National Executive Council of the Labour Party has approved May 23 as the date for its presidential primary election, setting in motion the party’s preparation for the 2027 general elections amid ongoing leadership disputes and recent defections that have threatened its electoral relevance.
Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Interim National Chairman, announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, confirming that the timetable was ratified at a statutory NEC meeting observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The approved schedule also fixes April 15 for the submission of the party’s membership register to INEC, in compliance with the Electoral Act and commission guidelines. Primaries for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and state assembly candidates have been scheduled for May 15, eight days before the presidential primary.
“The council, which remains the highest decision-making organ of the party after the national convention, reviewed recent developments within the party,” Asogwa stated in the announcement.
The Labour Party’s preparation for the 2027 electoral cycle comes at a critical juncture for the party, which has been grappling with internal leadership battles, defections of prominent members, and questions about its ability to sustain the momentum gained during the 2023 presidential election when its candidate Peter Obi secured over six million votes and won 12 states including Lagos.
Obi’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress on March 6, 2026, dealt a significant blow to the Labour Party’s national standing, removing its most electorally successful figure and raising concerns about the party’s viability as a major opposition force. His departure followed sustained criticisms of the party’s internal governance structure and leadership legitimacy disputes that have paralyzed decision-making since the 2023 elections.
The NEC meeting also ratified the party’s congress schedule, approving March 26 for ward congresses, March 28 for local government congresses, and March 31 for state congresses. The national convention, which will formalize leadership positions and party structures, has been scheduled for April 11.
According to Asogwa, the council addressed what he described as “the recent unfortunate invasion of the party secretariat by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by certain rogue elements,” an incident that underscored the intensity of factional battles within the party.
The Board of Trustees, acting on recommendations from the Peace, Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee chaired by Salisu Mohammed, who serves as BOT Secretary, has suspended several members for alleged acts of indiscipline, anti-party activities, and complicity in the desecration of the national secretariat.
The suspensions reflect the Labour Party’s effort to enforce discipline amid competing claims to leadership and control of party structures. The party has been embroiled in legal battles over the legitimacy of its national leadership since the 2023 elections, with various factions challenging the authority of the Interim National Working Committee.
“NEC further ratified and approved the ongoing expansion of the party’s membership register through a hybrid approach, Digital Membership Registration, alongside manual registration in rural communities,” Asogwa said. “This initiative is aimed at modernising the party’s database, strengthening participatory democracy and enhancing transparency and efficiency in party administration, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.”
The dual registration approach is designed to address concerns about the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the party’s membership data, which has been a source of dispute in internal elections and congress proceedings. Digital registration is expected to reduce manipulation and provide verifiable records, while manual registration ensures inclusion of members in areas with limited internet connectivity.
The NEC also resolved to fill all existing vacancies within party structures by appointing interim leadership to ensure administrative continuity. The national leadership has been empowered to make such appointments, which will remain in acting capacity pending the conduct of substantive congresses in accordance with the party constitution and the approved timetable.
“The council also urged members to utilise the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms to address grievances, thereby promoting unity and minimising internal conflicts,” Asogwa stated, signaling the party’s awareness of the corrosive effect of unresolved disputes on its organizational cohesion.
The NEC welcomed a recent Federal High Court judgment affirming the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairman, a ruling that has provided temporary clarity to the party’s leadership structure. The council passed a vote of confidence in Usman’s leadership, the Interim National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Usman, a former Minister of Finance under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and ex-Senator representing Kaduna South, was appointed Interim National Chairman following the removal of Julius Abure, whose tenure was marred by allegations of financial mismanagement and unauthorized congresses. The court’s affirmation of her position has not ended all challenges, as rival factions continue to contest the legitimacy of the Interim National Working Committee.
Asogwa commended INEC for its prompt compliance with the court pronouncement, a recognition of the commission’s role in resolving party leadership disputes through enforcement of judicial decisions.
The Labour Party was founded in 2002 and registered with INEC in 2004 as the political arm of the Nigeria Labour Congress, with the TUC also holding significant influence within its structures. The party’s original vision was to provide working-class Nigerians with direct representation in governance, but it struggled to gain electoral traction for nearly two decades, fielding presidential candidates who routinely secured fewer than 500,000 votes.
The party’s fortunes changed dramatically in 2023 when Peter Obi, a former Anambra State Governor who defected from the PDP, emerged as its presidential candidate. Obi’s candidacy mobilized young voters and urban professionals under the “Obidient” movement, transforming the Labour Party into a formidable electoral force. The party won governorship seats in Abia and secured representation in the National Assembly and several state assemblies.
However, the post-election period has been characterized by bitter disputes over control of party structures, allegations of financial impropriety, and tensions between the political class and the labour unions that founded the party. The NLC and TUC have repeatedly intervened to broker peace and install interim leadership, but factional disputes have persisted.
The scheduling of primaries for May represents an early start to the 2027 electoral cycle, potentially giving the Labour Party time to rebuild its structures and attract credible candidates despite the loss of Obi. However, analysts have questioned whether the party can maintain its appeal without its most recognizable figure and whether it can resolve internal governance challenges in time to mount a competitive campaign.
INEC regulations require political parties to conduct primaries and submit candidate lists within specified timeframes ahead of general elections. The commission’s observation of the NEC meeting signals its oversight role in ensuring parties comply with constitutional and electoral requirements.