Nenadi Usman: LP under siege… but we’ll surpass 2023 performance

Nenadi Usman, factional interim chairman of the Labour Party (LP), says a few individuals working in cahoots with external forces, have continued to wage war against the party.

The former minister of finance spoke on Monday at the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) virtual people’s parliament programme.

The LP chair said the party, registered in 2002, shook Nigeria’s political landscape in 2023 with a strong showing at the polls.

She described the party’s performance in the last election as a “clear message that Nigerians are hungry for change”.

Usman also accused some politicians of conspiring with external forces to destabilise the LP despite several court judgments.

“Our internal reorganisation was disrupted by an avoidable crisis when a former national chairman, whose tenure had expired, tried to reclaim office, but the Supreme Court on 4 April 2025 affirmed my leadership,” she said.

“Despite clear court rulings, a few individuals, aided by external forces who once benefited from the Supreme Court’s decision against our presidential petition, continue to attack the LP.

“This is not just an attack on the Labour Party; it is part of a broader attempt to destabilise virtually all opposition parties in Nigeria.”

‘LP WILL SURPASS 2023 SUCCESSES’

The LP chair also said the party is now repositioning itself as a competitive platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) of our party has approved several strategic programmes. Among them are: a comprehensive membership registration and revalidation drive, with a target of enrolling 10 million new members,” she said.

“A series of ward, local government, and state congresses, culminating in a national convention to elect a substantive leadership.

“It is our firm commitment that these processes will be completed before the end of this year, ensuring that the Labour Party is well-prepared to contest and win in 2027.”

On defections, Usman admitted the party’s rapid growth in 2023 led to candidates being fielded without thorough checks.

She said future reforms would ensure only committed individuals, aligned with the party’s values, are allowed to contest on its platform.

“Our platform will not be a mere stepping stone for opportunists, but a home for patriots committed to service and transformation,” the LP chair said.

“Yes, we have faced setbacks. But the Labour Party is resilient, and we are already turning the tide.

“With the reforms being implemented, we are poised not only to replicate but to surpass the successes of 2023.”

The interim chair also urged youths to move beyond observation and play active roles in shaping the party’s future.