In a significant move to reposition itself ahead of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, held a crucial meeting in Abuja where sweeping resolutions were adopted to restructure the party and boost grassroots mobilisation.
The NEC, which convened at the Top Rank Hotel in Garki Area 11, Abuja, approved a raft of decisions aimed at fortifying the party’s leadership structure and activating a 90-day timetable for the conduct of an “All-Inclusive and Expansive National Convention.”
The NEC, comprising the statutory nine members in session, endorsed the expansion of the National Working Committee (NWC) and ratified steps necessary for the full implementation of a consent judgment agreement earlier brokered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 26, 2022, and executed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Labour Party on June 27, 2022.
Central to the resolutions is the appointment of three Deputy National Chairmen to assist Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the National Chairman of the party, in piloting the affairs of the NWC transition government under the National Caretaker Committee (NCC). Similarly, three Deputy National Secretaries were appointed to support Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the National Secretary.
In addition, vacancies in the NWC are to be filled, and both Standing and Ad-hoc Committees will be constituted to drive the processes leading up to the National Convention. These steps, the NEC stated, are aimed at ensuring party cohesion and administrative efficiency during the transition phase.
The Labour Party NEC also approved the immediate opening of a new National Secretariat in Abuja, and directed that the old office at No. 2 IBM Haruna Street, Utako District, be permanently shut. INEC is to be formally notified of the relocation.
Following the move, the party will commence a robust nationwide mobilisation campaign targeting the enrolment of 10 million Nigerians into its membership database within 30 days. The strategy includes:
Launch of a user-friendly online membership registration platform with downloadable membership cards featuring unique identification numbers.
Revalidation of existing memberships, accompanied by the issuance of both digital and physical cards.
Enforcement of an annual membership subscription fee of N1,200 to formalise participation.
Registration and issuance of certificates to support groups with traceable ID systems.
This ambitious membership drive is expected to boost the party’s grassroots penetration and digital engagement, as it prepares for internal elections and broader electoral contests.
To ensure inclusivity and transparency, the NEC also unveiled the roadmap for the upcoming National Convention, scheduled to be held within 90 days. The build-up to the convention will include:
Ward Congresses
Local Government Area (LGA) Congresses
State Congresses
Delegates Elections
The final All-Inclusive and Expansive National Convention 2025
This timeline, party insiders say, is designed to revitalise the LP’s internal democracy and give voice to a broader spectrum of members and stakeholders.
Wednesday’s NEC meeting attracted notable Labour Party figures and leaders from affiliate unions. In attendance were representatives of Dr. Alex Otti, Executive Governor of Abia State, and his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu. Also present were Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC President; Barr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC General Secretary; and representatives of the NLC Women’s Commission.
From the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) came Comrade SOZ Ejiofor (Chairman) and Comrade Salisu Mohammed (Secretary). The Trade Union Congress (TUC) was also well-represented, including its Women’s Commission. Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, the party’s National Chairman, and representatives of Mr. Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, were also in attendance.
Labour Party officials described the NEC’s resolutions as a major turning point in the party’s journey towards becoming a credible alternative for governance in Nigeria. “These decisions reflect our commitment to transparency, internal democracy, and strategic growth. Our 90-day timeline is realistic, and with mass mobilisation, we are poised to transform our structure into a people-driven political force,” a top official who attended the meeting said.
As the LP charts a new course, analysts believe the reorganisation could significantly reposition the party for the 2027 general elections, especially as it leverages the momentum of its youth-driven movement and pro-labour identity.