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Claim: A Facebook user, @ Newsflash Niaja Chronicles, stated in a post that INEC officially confirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the acting National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Verdict: False. INEC’s website and the Commissioner of Publicity and Voter Information recognise Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairperson.
Full Text
With Nigeria’s 2027 general elections approaching, political parties have started making preparations. The APC, for instance, has made its move by officially endorsing President Bola Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate. Meanwhile, the opposition parties have joined the newly formed Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) to mount a united front.
The Labour Party (LP) has been in a leadership tussle for a while between Julius Abure, who insists he is the legitimate National Chairman based on party conventions and specific court rulings, and Senator Nenadi Usman, who was named the National Chairperson by the Party’s National Executive committee in July 2025, with the support of Alex Otto and the Nigerian Labour Congress.
In a related context, a Facebook user, @ Newsflash Niaja Chronicles, shared an image of Peter Obi and Sen. Nenadi Usman, claiming that INEC confirmed the replacement of Julius Abure with Sen. Nenadi. The accompanying text that followed the image read:
“In a stunning political twist, the independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has officially confirmed Senator Nenadi Usman as the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), a development shaking up Nigeria’s 2027 political terrain. This move has sparked intense speculation, with many now saying President Tinubu doesn’t even know where to plant his next trap.”
As of Aug. 11, 2025, when the video was seen, it had 662 likes, 346 comments, and 123 shares. Users who responded to the post had varying views, which can be seen below.
@ Ezementus Chijoke, for instance, said, “This is a game Tinubu is playing. I know it will happen, so they will destabilise the coalition ADC. Now they want Obi to go with his LP, so they will find a ground to rig the election.
@Uka Matthew replied: “Peter Obi, the messiah of our time.”
@Abama Moses Akuki added: “Our Problem in Nigeria is not a political party. We are going for a person with considerable character who is within the standard norms of society.”
@Ayuba Toma, like others who were convinced about their stance, responded by saying, “Hahaha. APC, Judiciary, and INEC may God deliver us from their hands. God bless Nigeria.”
DUBAWA investigated the claim to determine its accuracy, as it could sway political narratives and public opinion during the 2027 elections.
Verification
We started by checking the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) social media handles and official website. As of Aug. 11, 2025, it contained no announcement or record confirming Nenadi Usman as Acting Chairperson of the Labour Party. INEC’s website still lists Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairperson.
In May 2025, INEC disputed media reports suggesting it had officially recognised specific individuals as leaders of the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, describing such reports as “false and misleading.” The commission explained that the names displayed on its website were uploaded earlier in compliance with a court order, unrelated to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the LP’s leadership crisis.
Available media records show that Senator Nenadi Usman’s appointment as Interim National Chairperson in July 2025 followed a Supreme Court ruling that Nigerian courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership disputes. The judgment rendered earlier court decisions recognising Julius Abure as chairperson invalid. This cleared the way for the Labour Party’s National Executive Council to appoint Sen. Usman without legal obstruction.
Daily Trust, The Guardian, and Channels TV reports confirm the court’s decision and the NEC’s subsequent appointment of Sen. Usman.
We contacted Samuel Olumekun, INEC’s Publicity and Voter Information Commissioner, for comments on this claim.
Samuel said the commission does not have the authority to decide political party leadership. He explained that its role is purely administrative and is limited to publishing names submitted in accordance with party constitutions and valid court orders.
He further clarified that, contrary to social media claims, Julius Abure’s name has not been replaced with Nenadi Usman’s.
The commission maintains that Julius Abure’s name will remain on its website until the party resolves its internal issues and proper documentation is received.
Conclusion
Although a faction of the Labour Party named Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairman in July 2025, INEC’s records and public statements still list Julius Abure as the chairman. The claim is therefore false.
