In a bid to resolve its ongoing leadership crisis, the Labour Party (LP) has appointed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the Chairperson of its newly formed Caretaker Committee. The decision was made during an extended stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State’s capital, on Wednesday.
Senator Usman, a former Minister of Finance and a senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district from 2011 to 2015, will now lead the 29-member committee. The committee’s mandate is to steer the party through its current crisis and organize a national convention within 90 days to elect new leadership at all levels, from ward to national.
The committee’s secretary is Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, representing Abia Central. His role will be to assist in coordinating the party’s activities and ensure a smooth transition during the Caretaker Committee’s tenure.
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The Labour Party has been embroiled in leadership disputes, prompting the formation of this Caretaker Committee. The committee’s primary objective is to stabilize the party, mend internal rifts, and lay the groundwork for a fresh leadership structure that will emerge from an upcoming convention.
The meeting was a major political event, drawing top figures within the Labour Party. Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed were present. Other notable attendees included Senator Victor Umeh, the LP’s Lagos State governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, who hosted the gathering.
With the Caretaker Committee now in place, many Labour Party supporters are hopeful that the party will overcome its internal challenges and refocus on its mission to provide credible opposition and good governance in Nigeria.
