The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has announced that the party’s long-awaited National Convention will now be held on April 28, 2026, in Umuahia, Abia State, as part of renewed efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Usman made the disclosure on Wednesday while featuring on a programme on Arise Television in Abuja, explaining that the earlier postponement of the convention was deliberate, aimed at fostering reconciliation within the party and creating an opportunity for new members to join its ranks.
According to her, activities leading up to the convention will commence on April 23, adding that the leadership, in collaboration with Abia State Governor Alex Otti, is committed to building a stronger and more inclusive political platform capable of producing credible leaders for the country.
She used the opportunity to extend an olive branch to aggrieved members of the party, including former National Chairman Julius Abure and his supporters, urging them to return and contribute to rebuilding the party.
More Read
“Our strength is in coming back together and making peace among ourselves. We are extending the olive branch to those who are aggrieved to please come back. Let’s work together and build our party,” Usman said.
Speaking on the party’s internal structure, she affirmed that Governor Otti currently occupies a central leadership position within the party, noting that there must always be one leader at a time to provide direction.
More Read
On preparations for the 2027 presidential election, Usman revealed that the party has resolved to zone its presidential ticket to the South in the interest of national unity and fairness. She emphasized that while the North may have numerical strength, equitable power rotation remains essential for peaceful coexistence.
“It’s more about having peace in the nation. We don’t want to pitch the country into North versus South. When it’s the turn of the South, let them produce the president,” she stated.
The LP chairman also dismissed speculations about a predetermined presidential candidate, stressing that all qualified members are free to contest. She announced that the party will adopt a direct primary system, which she said would deepen internal democracy and provide equal opportunity for aspirants.
“Everybody is invited to come and run. It’s going to be direct primaries. Whoever the people choose will get the ticket,” she said.
Usman argued that direct primaries would particularly benefit women, as the delegate system often favors wealthy contenders, thereby limiting participation by those without substantial financial resources.
More Read
Addressing talks of a possible coalition against President Bola Tinubu, she clarified that the Labour Party is not currently engaged in any such negotiations. Instead, she maintained that the party is focused on strengthening its internal structures.
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Usman admitted that while the party appeared strong externally, it suffered internal weaknesses, including the absence of polling unit agents in a significant number of locations. She, however, expressed confidence that the party is now more organized and better prepared.
“Now, externally we may look weak, but internally we are getting stronger. If you don’t have an agent at the polling unit, anything transmitted electronically is not to your advantage,” she noted.
She reiterated that internal democracy remains critical to the survival and growth of any political party, adding that the Labour Party is determined to get it right as it prepares for future electoral contests.
With the convention date now set, the party leadership hopes the reconciliation efforts and structural reforms will position it as a formidable force in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
