Kaduna LP backs Nenadi Usman’s leadership, chides Abure-led faction

The Labour Party (LP) in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna has passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Nenadi Usman, the caretaker committee chairperson of the party.

In a statement on Wednesday, Zephaniah Yohanna, chairman of the LP in Kagarko, and Hassan Suleiman, the secretary, raised concerns over alleged attempts to incite division and undermine the authority of Usman’s leadership.

They claimed that Julius Abure, the factional LP’s national chairman, and his supporters orchestrated plots to damage Usman’s reputation and weaken her grip on the party.

They also alerted security agencies and stakeholders to the alleged steps taken by some members of the Abure faction to impose “an illegal leadership on the Kagarko chapter of the party.

“This unfortunate move, orchestrated by elements intent on discrediting the image and authority of the acting national chairman of the Labour Party Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, represents a calculated and failed attempt to destabilise our party’s progress at both the grassroots and national levels,” the statement reads.

“We therefore categorically declare as follows: Comrade Zephaniah Yohanna remains the constitutionally recognised chairman of the Labour Party in Kagarko LGA, along with his duly elected executive members.

“Any individual or group parading themselves as alternative party leadership in the LGA are impostors acting outside the bounds of the law and the party constitution.

“The purported attempt to impose some persons as the Kagarko LGA party executives is a politically motivated charade aimed at sowing confusion and undermining the integrity of our national leadership.

“We therefore urge the peace-loving people of Kagarko LGA and the general public to disregard these fraudulent claims and the agents promoting them.

“The Labour Party in Kagarko LGA affirms its unwavering loyalty to the acting national chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, and hereby passes a vote of confidence in her capable and transparent leadership.

“Any attempt by external forces – reportedly aligned with some suspended members of the party at the national level – to forcibly impose an illegitimate leadership in Kagarko LGA will be strongly resisted through all legal, political, and democratic means available to us.

“We advise media organisations, the general public, and relevant authorities to beware of impersonators and mischief-makers peddling misinformation.

“The general public is hereby advised to note that only communications and statements issued by Chairman Zephaniah Yohanna and his executive team should be regarded as the official voice of the Labour Party in Kagarko LGA.

“We therefore urge all loyal party members, stakeholders, and supporters to remain calm, vigilant, and united in defence of the Labour Party’s constitution, structures, and democratic values.”

The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Abure and his allies on one hand and the caretaker committee led by Usman on the other laying claim to the party’s leadership.

The Usman committee is supported by Peter Obi, the party’s ex-presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, governor of Abia state.

On April 4, the supreme court ruled that the court of appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure chairman of the LP.

Since the verdict, there have been various interpretations of the apex court’s pronouncement, with all factions claiming victory.

Lamidi Apapa has also laid claim to the chairmanship of the party.