The Labour Party has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services over what it described as the illegal circulation and sale of nomination forms allegedly linked to the party’s former National Chairman, Julius Abure.
The development was disclosed on Thursday in Abuja by the factional National Chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman, who stated that copies of the petitions had also been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Usman accused Abure of operating outside the recognised leadership structure of the party, insisting that his tenure as national chairman had expired and that a valid national convention held in Umuahia had already produced a new leadership currently recognised by INEC.
According to her, the continued circulation of nomination forms by Abure and his loyalists amounted to impersonation and deliberate deception aimed at misleading unsuspecting aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We received the news surprisingly. It was a big surprise because after the court said his tenure was over, we went to Umuahia, held a national convention, and elected new leaders,” Usman said while addressing journalists in Abuja.
She maintained that the party’s current leadership emerged through a legitimate convention process and that INEC’s official records already reflected the changes made during the Umuahia convention.
The LP chairman argued that any nomination forms or political activities conducted outside the recognised leadership amounted to illegality and should not be accepted by party members or aspirants.
According to her, some politicians seeking elective offices had already fallen victim to the alleged unauthorised sale of nomination forms.
“One man came here to tell me his wife was contesting, and when I looked at the form, it was not the form we issued. They are deceiving people, and it is not right at all,” she stated.
Usman expressed concern that the alleged circulation of unauthorised forms could create confusion within the party and undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
She said the petitions submitted to security agencies were intended to prevent further impersonation and protect aspirants from being defrauded.
The latest development is another chapter in the prolonged leadership crisis that has continued to affect the Labour Party since after the 2023 general elections.
The dispute over the party’s leadership has resulted in multiple court cases, competing factions and disagreements over the control of party structures nationwide.
Usman insisted that the legal position regarding Abure’s tenure was already clear, adding that the courts had previously ruled that his tenure had expired.
She also dismissed reports suggesting that Abure had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the leadership situation within the party.
According to her, the current leadership of the Labour Party had not been formally served with any notice of appeal.
“My take is that the Supreme Court will maintain its stand. If a court says my tenure is over, I cannot go back to say it is not over,” she said.
The factional chairman expressed confidence that the judiciary would uphold its earlier decisions regarding the party’s leadership structure.
She also stressed that the Labour Party was moving forward with preparations for the 2027 elections despite the internal disputes.
Usman revealed that interest in the party’s platform had continued to grow, with several aspirants already indicating interest in contesting various elective positions under the Labour Party.
According to her, three presidential aspirants had already purchased nomination forms ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
She further disclosed that the party had resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.
“We have decided that our next candidate or flag bearer should come from the South. Anybody from the North who wants to buy forms should not even bother,” she stated.
The zoning declaration is expected to shape political alignments and consultations within the party as aspirants position themselves ahead of the primaries.
Usman explained that the party was considering adopting a consensus arrangement for its presidential primaries in order to minimise internal conflicts and strengthen unity ahead of the general election.
However, she stressed that all aspirants would still undergo rigorous screening to ensure that only credible and competent individuals emerged as candidates.
“We are hoping for consensus, but we are going to screen really well because to lead this great country, we need the best,” she said.
The Labour Party chairman also expressed optimism about the party’s chances in the next election cycle, insisting that Nigerians would ultimately determine who governs the country.
According to her, the party was not intimidated by internal disputes or external political pressure from rival parties.
“I am not afraid because I know power belongs to God, and Nigerians will come out to choose who they want to lead them,” she stated.
Political observers say the ongoing leadership tussle within the Labour Party could significantly influence the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Labour Party gained national prominence during the 2023 presidential election following the strong performance of Peter Obi, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate and attracted widespread support among youths and urban voters.
However, analysts warn that unresolved leadership disputes could weaken the party’s internal cohesion and electoral prospects if not addressed before the next election cycle intensifies.
The controversy over nomination forms and party leadership is also expected to attract attention from INEC and security agencies as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
Political stakeholders are likely to monitor how the police, DSS and electoral authorities respond to the petitions submitted by the Labour Party leadership.
As the 2027 political season gradually gathers momentum, the Labour Party faces the challenge of managing internal disputes while sustaining the support base that propelled it into national prominence during the last election.
