There was a heavy security presence on Tuesday, as Nenadi Usman, the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, assumed office at the party headquarters.
The heavily armed security men had arrived at the party’s national secretariat, at Utako, Abuja, as early as 6 am to forestall further clash between the Julius Abure-led faction and the Alex Oti, led group.
The development makes Usman the first female National Chairman of a major Nigerian political party in Nigeria, since the fourth Republic started in 1999.
A visit to the party secretariat shows that the official banner bearing the photographs of Usman as National Chairman and those of the Darlington Nwochocha, who is the acting National Secretary has been hoisted around the building, signalling a change
The Federal High Court Abuja, had last month, sacked the Julius Abure-led faction of the party, a decision that was reinforced by the recent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who officially recognised Usman and her team, as the authentic leaders of the party
With the takeover, it is expected that the party will embark on a reconciliation of all the aggrieved.
Ike Abonyi, a member of the Labour Party Media team, had told newsmen that “high-level” consultations were on to prepare the next stage.
Abonyi said the consultation will also involve fresh party registration in the Ward, LG, States and zonal Congresses.
According to him, the unnecessary delays in resolving the crisis were part of plans to disorganize opposition parties and ensure that Peter Obi does not have a platform in 2027.
” You can see that immediately Peter Obi joined the ADC, the court now took that decision, but we are happy that Obi joined the ADC, without resigning from the Labour Party
” They are aware that it is only Peter Obi who can successfully unite members of the opposition, ahead of 2027.
