By Oluebube Chukwu
The Labour Party has taken decisive action by forming a 29-member caretaker committee to oversee the election of new leadership within the next 90 days. This move, widely seen as a step in the right direction, was reached during the party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Umuahia. The committee is chaired by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, with Senator Darlington Nwokocha serving as Secretary.
The resolution to constitute the committee ensures there will be no leadership vacuum in the party, following the expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) on June 10, 2024. The committee’s primary responsibility will be conducting ward, local government, state congresses, and a national convention in alignment with the Labour Party’s constitution.
The committee includes representation from key party sectors, including three senators, four members of the House of Representatives, three members from state houses of assembly, and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and gubernatorial candidates in the last election.
Governor Alex Otti, the host of the meeting, welcomed stakeholders and emphasized the need to address the existential issues confronting the party. He expressed his optimism about the party’s future and stressed that the overall goal is the survival and strengthening of the Labour Party.
The National Leader of the party and 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, praised the decision, describing it as essential to ensuring the party’s future success. He urged members to support the caretaker committee in carrying out its duties to restore order and unity within the party.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Senator Nenadi Usman thanked the party’s leadership and promised to carry out the task diligently, assuring all stakeholders that the caretaker committee would justify the trust placed in them.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of confidence in the leadership of Peter Obi and a call for all party members with pending legal cases to withdraw them for the sake of party unity.