December 21, (THEWILL) — One month after the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party said it would embark on a membership drive to regenerate the party, the other faction led by its Acting National Chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman unveiled a similar programme, though more extensive than Abure’s.
At a meeting of its National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in November this year, Abure stated that it was embarking on a membership registration nationwide and revalidation drive, in preparation for the 2027 general election. The targeted membership is 20 million to be sourced through online registration, alongside revalidation of existing members. The NEC meeting drew the attendance of the vice presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed and officials from the litigation and election and party monitoring (EPM) departments of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, led by Rakiya Dattijo.
Abure said the NEC is empowered to administer the party between conventions and to fill existing vacancies. “The NEC has the responsibility and power to manage the affairs of political parties between national conventions as well as to fill vacant positions,” Abure said. “It is for this reason that we called this meeting so that we can do the needful, resolve all our crises, differences and strategically position the party for the 2027 election.”
According to its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the membership drive and revalidation of members exercise “is designed to strengthen the Labour Party’s grassroots presence and boost its political influence nationwide ahead of the 2027 polls.” However, the Senator Usamn led faction of the party, which has the support of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Abia Governor Alex Otti has fixed February 28, 2026, for its national convention, while launching a nationwide membership revalidation and fresh registration drive targeting 10 million Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.
In fact, the faction flagged off the registration exercise last Wednesday, the”fresh mobilisation was part of a broader effort to reposition and strengthen the party for what she described as bigger responsibilities and opportunities as the next election season approaches.” She said, “As we are all aware, our party, like many opposition platforms in Nigeria, has in recent times passed through a period of intense challenges and disruptions.
“I am pleased to state that the majority of the issues have been decisively resolved by the courts, while the few remaining matters are still before the judiciary. We remain confident that these too will soon be conclusively settled in the interests of justice and democracy. As we prepare to enter the election season next year, the Labour Party considers it both necessary and strategic to reposition, reorganise, and strengthen itself for the bigger responsibilities and opportunities that lie ahead,” she said, adding that, “It is the furtherance of this objective that we are formally launching this membership revalidation and registration exercise, where we will be targeting 10 million new members.”
She disclosed that the faction has exchanged communication with the INEC to that effect, adding that the revalidation and new registration exercise would run from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2026. Ward congresses would begin on January 13, 2026 while the national convention would be held a month and a half later on February 28. Acting National Secretary of the faction, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, said the party has carried INEC along in its programmes and therefore was on the right track. He said, “The process to connect with 10 million Nigerians has been outlined and we have sent out a timetable (for congresses) to the INEC, which is the regulator. And they have acknowledged the receipt of the timetable. The timetable for the drive of membership registration across wards, LGAs and states kicks off from today.”
Arguing that those registering would be eligible to vote at the congresses culminating in the national convention early next year, he further said that the party has put in all the machinery to ensure a free and smooth congress and convention. “These are people who will vote during our congresses, who will finally end with the national convention. I know people will be wondering, Why the delay? There is no delay at all. We have put all the processes that we need to get to this stage together, and we have taken our time to make sure that the timetable given to INEC is met.”
“We know that Nigerians are agitated. They want to be included in everything we are doing. But we cannot rush like any other party that will just go into one room, jump out and present just anything to Nigerians without considering how they will feel. “So, it’s the inclusivity and the attention to detail that have kept us till now. But we are sure that we will achieve the best result at the end of the day.”
At the occasion, the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, was revealed as chairman of the National Steering Committee for Mobilisation and Membership Revalidation and New Registration. He said, “I am deeply honoured to accept this responsibility as chairman of the National Steering Committee for the Mobilisation and Membership Revalidation and New Registration of members.”
Describing the target as a national call rather than mere numbers, Emetu said, “Our mission is clear and compelling – to connect and mobilise 10 million Nigerians into the Labour Party. This is not merely a numerical target. It is a national call to action aimed at strengthening democracy and giving voice to the aspirations of our people.” Other members of the Committee include ex- LP Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, Chinedu Eloka and Kamal Yusuf. While both factions plan their act, stakeholders are looking up to INEC to intervene and call both factions to order. This was what it did at the weekend with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The Commission summoned the party’s rival factions to a reconciliation meeting in Abuja on Friday. The closed-door engagement, which took place at the INEC’s Abuja headquarters, involved representatives of the two contending blocs led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki and the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed.
Those who attended from the Turaki-led faction included members of its National Working Committee (NWC), key secretariat staff, as well as former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, underscoring the high-level nature of the discussions. On the Wike led faction’s part, Mohammed arrived with members of his national caretaker committee, including the party’s secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu. INEC’s intervention is seen as a critical move to restore stability within the opposition party and ensure compliance with electoral regulations, especially as preparations intensify for the 2026 off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti, Osun and Bayelsa States.
According to Amupitan, SAN, who presided over the meeting, the Commission is out to ensure crisis riddled political parties overcome their crisis and present the picture of a robust multi-party participation in the electoral process. He said, “INEC is an umpire and will always want to conduct an election that is transparent and acceptable. Where major participants are unable to participate, it casts a dark shadow on the outcome.” He urged both factions to put their house in order.
Turaki stated that he thought the meeting was for “house -keeping issues,” earlier raised with the Commission. having presented his faction’s challenge to INEC. He expressed surprise that those who were expelled from the party were invited for the meeting. Anyanwu who spoke for the Wike faction said the tenure of the National Working Committee, NWC, expired on December 9, 2025 and since the court had nullified the Ibadan National Convention of the party, there was need to set up a Caretaker Committee and Board of Trustees for the party. Thus, both sides maintained their hard-line position, frustrating the Commission mediation. The case with the Labour Party may not be different.
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