Comrade Anslem Eragbe is a member of interim National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party. He also served as National Youth Leader of the party between 2019 and 2024.
In this interview, Eregbe speaks of the chances of Labour Party in the 2027 general elections.
Excerpt.
About four months after the Supreme Court’s judgement, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not taken a decision on the leadership crisis in Labour Party. What do you think is stopping INEC from being decisive on the lingering crisis?
INEC cannot justify its reasons for the delay for the non implementation of the Supreme Court Judgement of 4th April 2025 that sacked Julius Abure as National Chairman of Labour Party whose tenure expired on 8th June 2024 in line with the INEC affidavit on oath sworn to on 23rd July 2024 in furtherance of the voided National convention conducted by Julius Abure on 27th March 2024 without congresses and without delegates’ election.
INEC said it would amount to subjudice, if it takes position on the Labour Party National Chairmanship as the matter is still in court. Is there any outstanding matter in court regarding party’s leadership crisis?
The Supreme Court Judgement of 4th April 2025 dismissed the FCT High Court Judgement of 8th October 2024 and Appeal Court Judgement of 7th January 2025 that declared Julius Abure as National Chairman for Lack of jurisdiction. INEC is aware that courts cannot determine the leadership issue of political parties in Nigeria. So if INEC still claims there is a matter in court on leadership issue as a basis for its non implementation of the Supreme Court judgement, then it means INEC is in collusion to frustrate Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Chairman and Secretary appointed by the National Executive Council (NEC), the only authority in charge of Labour Party, and INEC must be resisted forthwith.
As it is now, Labour Party will not field candidates in the August 16 bye-elections and February 2026 FCT Area Council elections. Do you think this is justifiable for INEC to exclude a registered political party from an election?
That INEC rejected Julius Abure’s illegal and unlawful candidates after uploading their names. It now means that INEC shall release the codes to Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Chairman and Secretary to upload the valid Labour Party LP candidates. Labour Party can only field candidates it it is from Senator Nenadi Usman National Working Committee NWC
One would have thought that INEC should have been dealing with a faction of the party pending on the final resolution of the leadership crisis. Which faction do you think the commission ought to been dealing with now?
With the Supreme Court judgement of 4th April 2025 that sacked Julius Abure and the National Executive Council (NEC) resolutions of 18th July 2025 that reappointed and ratified Senator Nenadi Esther Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party, there are no more factions as Senator Nenadi Usman led National Working Committee NWC is the only leadership of Labour Party in Nigeria that INEC is relating with.
2027 general elections is less than two years away, do you think Labour Party can still make impact in the elections?
Labour Party is the party to beat in the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, which is the reason they are conspiring to frustrate Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Working Committee.
Do you still think the ruling party is still behind Labour Party crisis? If yes, how do you suggest the party can survive the landmine?
INEC should be honourable and should not allow this matter get to a point where Nigerians shall see INEC as their enemy.
Beyond the razzmatazz regarding the coalition, do you think it is healthy and for the survival of the Labour Party to join the coalition platform?
Labour Party is a leading political party in Nigeria that won the 2023 presidential election until the leadership under Julius Abure couldn’t provide the proof of the victory to reclaim the mandate at the tribunal. The NLC has mandated the party will join forces with other political parties in an alliance or coalition for 2027 while still maintaining its identity as Labour Party.
And in the event that former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar picks the ADC presidential ticket, will you support Peter Obi becoming his running mate, at least to ensure that Bola Tinubu does not win second term?
The political arrangement is for Southern Nigeria to present the president to complete the eight years tenure due to South. That way, Peter Obi can only be supported as a presidential candidate for 2027 and Atiku Abubakar is expected to rally Northern Nigeria behind a Southern candidate if he believes in removing APC from power 2027.
What is the position of Labour Party under Nenadi Usman regarding zoning of 2027 presidency? Does it support the South holding the position till 2031 or 2027 ticket should be thrown open?
Senator Nenadi Usman National Working Committee and National Executive Council (NEC) position is a Southern presidency 2027 – 2031.
Where is Labour Party considering zoning its National Chairman in the upcoming National Convention and why?
The National Chairman of Labour Party LP is Senator Nenadi Usman who is a northerner and the National Convention shall produce a northern candidate since the presidential candidate shall come from southern Nigeria.
Credit: New Telegraph Newspaper
