- Safiu Kehinde
Sen. Nenadi Usman has formally emerged as the first female National Chairman of a political party following her election as the leader of the Labour Party.
Usman, who previously served as the leader of the party’s national caretaker committee, recorded the historic feat at the Labour Party’s national convention held in Umuahia, Abia State.
With the Supreme Court affirming the legitimacy of her faction’s leadership of the party last week, the Labour Party would on Tuesday held its national convention where Usman was officially elected and declared as the new National Chairman.
Other members elected into the party’s National Working Committee include Rt. Hon. Iheanacho Obioma as National Secretary; Mrs. Nike Oriola as Deputy National Chairman; Ken Eluma Asogwa as National Publicity Secretary; Mrs. Oluchi Oparah as National Organising Secretary; Comrade Anslem Eragbe as National Financial Secretary; and Hilda Dokubo as National Women Leader, among other national officers.
As disclosed in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, the newly elected National Working Committee was subsequently sworn in and has assumed office.
Senator Usman was previously appointed to lead the party’s National Caretaker Committee at a NEC meeting in Umuahia on Wednesday, 4th September 2024.
“A former Minister of Finance and Senator, Usman brings a wealth of experience and proven capacity to her new role. As the 2027 general elections approach, she bears the immediate responsibility of positioning the party for electoral success.
“Following its strong showing in the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party has firmly established itself as a formidable political platform, a foundation Senator Usman is poised to consolidate.
“Prior to the convention, Senator Usman had been recognised as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, 30th January 2026, following a Federal High Court judgment delivered on 21st January 2026 affirming her leadership.
“This decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, 21st April 2026,” the statement read in part.
In her acceptance speech, Senator Usman expressed gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to reposition the party for greater success.
She commended the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, for his exemplary leadership and assured members that she would not let the party down in her new capacity.
She also reaffirmed her commitment to fostering unity, peace, and reconciliation within the party ahead of the next general elections.
In his remarks, Governor Otti charged the newly elected National Working Committee to provide purposeful leadership and strengthen the party’s structures nationwide.
He pleaded with the aggrieved members to “have a godly heart that would listen and reason with the party’s NWC as it reaches out to them”.
The governor emphasised the need to reconcile all the aggrieved members “because elections, which is a game of numbers, would soon start”.
Otti opined that any party that dispersed its members would be shooting itself in the foot and hindering its progress during elections.
He expressed the confidence in the national chairman’s integrity and accountability as a former banker, promising that the party would support her fully.
He thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission and Abia LP for making the convention a huge success.