Labour Party NEC Dissolves Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee, Backs Abure-Led NWC
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party has dissolved the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee and reaffirmed its confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Julius Abure.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Secretary of the NEC Forum, Abdulrahim Chindo, following a virtual NEC meeting held on March 17, 2026.
According to the statement, NEC comprising elected state chairmen and secretaries reviewed the activities of the caretaker committee and concluded that it had caused “incalculable damage” to the party since its “illegal inception.”
“NEC consequently dissolved the Esther Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee. NEC in session reaffirms its confidence in the National Working Committee led by Barrister Julius Abure,” the statement said.
The council noted that the Abure-led NWC was elected at the party’s National Convention on March 27, 2024, and reaffirmed at a NEC meeting held on November 28, 2025, under the monitoring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
NEC also directed Abure to issue the necessary notices to INEC to facilitate the conduct of primaries for the 2027 general elections in line with the electoral body’s timetable.
It further mandated Abure and Umar Ibrahim to pursue an appeal at the Court of Appeal seeking to set aside a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court on January 21, 2026.
The council stated that upon the successful setting aside of the judgment, the party leadership should proceed with issuing fresh notices to INEC for the conduct of primaries.
In addition, NEC nullified all notices previously issued to INEC by the dissolved Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee.
The statement explained that the virtual meeting became necessary following a Tribune publication on March 6, 2026, which called for both virtual and physical NEC meetings, adding that attendees included validly elected state chairmen and secretaries from the party’s December 6, 2025 elections, alongside other key members.
