Breaking: LP Elects Nenadi Usman as First Female Chairman

Senator Nenadi Usman was on Tuesday elected National Chairman of the Labour Party at its national convention in Umuahia, Abia State.

Her election makes her the first elected woman to lead a registered political party in Nigeria. She had previously led the party as chairman of a National Caretaker Committee.

Usman’s journey to the top began on September 4, 2024, when she was appointed to head the party’s National Caretaker Committee at a NEC meeting in Umuahia.

The appointment followed a leadership vacuum created by the expiration of the former executive’s tenure, a period that sparked intense legal and political disputes.

The former Finance Minister guided the party through months of litigation that ended in her favour at the appellate court.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised her as Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee on January 30, 2026, after a Federal High Court judgment of January 21, 2026, affirmed her leadership. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld that decision on April 21, 2026.

In her acceptance speech, Usman thanked delegates for their trust and pledged to reposition the party for greater electoral victories. “I will not let the party down in this new capacity,” she said.

She lauded Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his leadership and vowed to deepen unity, peace, and reconciliation within the party ahead of 2027. “We must consolidate on the gains of 2023 and build a stronger, more united Labour Party,” she said.

Governor Otti urged the new National Working Committee to provide purposeful leadership and expand the party’s structures across all states. “The task before you is to strengthen the party and make it the choice of Nigerians,” he charged.

Also elected were 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.

The new NWC was sworn in immediately and has assumed office, with Usman declaring the Labour Party ready to build on its 2023 momentum.