The Rapture, the Capture and the Rupture of Today's Labour Party

Apagun 

On the beautiful morning of January 19th 2026, every member of the Labour Party was expecting a judgement that will make or mar the political party that has been entrenched in a long legal battle of ownership, but was greatly disappointed that the judgement had been adjourned. The atmosphere was tensed as everyone can sense prevailing danger, sniffing a tilt from the cliff of the mountain, whosoever side that received the shocks will definitely lose the locks to the national Secretariat. It was adjourned to 21st of January, as some believed it was not too bad but to some like me, I was jittery.

Then came the moment, I couldn't muster the courage to monitor it live, but moments after the historical judgement, news filtered out, it was a moment of intense pleasure, joy, or overwhelming ecstasy. A moment the supporters of the Nnenadi Usman's faction was raptured!

*The Rapture: When mandate vanishes into thin air*  

While we were enraptured and jubilant, some disappointed and dissatisfied political apologists quickly reconvened together watching closely as the events unfolded, switching allegiance and repositioning themselves at the highest level, mediating and negotiating positions down to the grassroots at the expense of those who sought, aligned, fought and were greatly persecuted for standing up for this today's leadership of Labour Party yesterday. I can vividly remember November 17th 2024, when we broke out of the Abure faction to declare our support for the Caretaker Committee and inaugurate the Interim Executive Committee (IEC) of the Ogun State Labour Party, under heavy security at the expense of our blood, televised and broadcasted through Arise TV, Channels TV, published by Tribune, Punch, Vanguard and several bloggers.

Hence, our invitation to the Labour House during a retreat organized by the NTC, the Labour Movement and the Caretaker Committee when the horizon was opaque and the hope was slim. We gave Obiora Ifoh, some hard nuts to crack as he was forced to be making several counter press conferences and releases against us in order to quel the political inferno that would have consumed Abure if not checkmated, while Com. Tokunbo Peters, my dear brother, the erstwhile Publicity Secretary in Ogun State was given a sleepless nights as he engaged us day after day while we continued to wax stronger. We became a nightmare to Mr.Kehinde Sogunle and Com.Lookman Abiodun Jagun who was the State Chairman.

Now, think of the state Congress as an altar after surviving threats, persecution, unlawful arrests, defamation of characters, contempts as the Patriots are being sidelines while the traitors were being rewarded as we were being misrepresented, misconceived by reason of the calculated propaganda. During the Congresses, Delegates voted, winners are called, hands are raised. That moment should be a rapture: a lifting of the people's choice into public record. Instead, the national leadership performed a surgical mutilation. Results were edited mid-air. Names of actual winners were replaced by those who did not even participate before the communique cooled. While the report by the INEC clearly shows Apagun Olaolu Samuel emerged winner as the Chairman and published by the INEC through their notice board, the falsified memo to the INEC by the national leadership of the party states otherwise, causing confusion and frictions within the state structures.

It’s like a referee blowing the final whistle, the stadium erupts, then someone in the VIP box rewinds the tape and declares a different team scored. The crowd still heard the cheer, but the scoreboard was rewritten. That’s not correction. That’s erasure. If internal democratic processes are not allowed to thrive and prevail in democratic institutions, definitely like Fela said, "Democracy can then be best defined as demonstration of crazy people".

*The Capture: Institutional hijack in slow motion* 

 

Undemocratic handling of Congress disputes is not chaos. It’s capture. When the party’s national organs treat every case emanating from the state as a threat to be managed, not a voice to be heard, in an institutional party that believes in Equal Opportunities and Social Justice, the institution stops being a platform and becomes a vault. Only those with the combination get to decide who walks in.  

 A bank built with depositors’ money, but only the manager’s cousins can make withdrawals. The structure stands, the sign remains, but the purpose has been kidnapped. The Labour Party was built as an alternative to godfather politics, and as it appears to be now, it's been captured, though not been kept under lock and keys but soonest might be turned into what it once fought.

The Rupture: What breaks when trust is replaced

Mutilating Congress results and swapping winners does three things at once:  

1. Ruptures legitimacy: If members can’t trust the process, they can’t defend the product.  

2. Ruptures morale: Volunteers who campaigned, mobilized, and voted learn that fidelity has no reward.  

3. Ruptures identity: A party called “Labour” loses its moral wage. Workers respect rules. When rules are bent, the name becomes irony.  

Just like a rope bridge. Each Congress is a plank. Replace the plank with paper board, and the bridge still looks crossable from a distance. The rupture happens only when weight is applied. Elections are weight. Democracy inside a party is not decoration. It’s diagnostics. When internal elections are mutilated, the party loses the ability to detect its own weakness. You can’t strategize if you don’t know who actually won. You can’t mobilize if members believe the game is fixed. And you can’t claim to fight external impunity while practicing internal impunity.

The Labour Party’s current crisis isn’t just about names on a list. It’s about whether the party will be a movement or a monument. Movements correct themselves. Monuments are corrected by history.

Rapture lifts. Capture holds. Rupture breaks. Today’s Labour Party is suspended between all three. What happens next depends on whether leadership restores the mandate or keeps rewriting it.

©Apagun Olaolu Samuel

Chairman, 

Ogun State Labour Party

The GRAVITY, the CAVITY, and the CAPTIVITY OF THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL SPACE

As the Nigerian political space is being unnecessarily and increasingly overheated, political timetable compressed by INEC, electoral guidelines being changed abruptly amidst the game, and fulfillment of all electoral activities being swiftly runned by political parties in the wrong directions as petitions, rejoinders, counter petitions and court papers are flying here and there bore testimony to lack of adequate preparation and information dissemination from the electoral body and political parties. Several factions are shooting out dailies from political parties as the incumbent are not left out as they tarried long enough in some states awaiting the ruling party in such a state to cave in to the official party of the incumbent government.

Nigerian politics no longer lives only in Abuja conference rooms. It lives on X, in Nollywood skits, in Afrobeats lyrics, in WhatsApp broadcast lists. It pulls like a magnet, echoes like an empty hall, and traps like a cage. Gravity, cavity, captivity. Three forces shaping every election, protest, and debate. From 2023 till now, Nigerian politics moved from handshake deals at the grassroots and communities to hashtag wars, the space became a stadium, gravity pulls everyone in through social media, cavity left us shouting in the void, captivity kept the doors locked and the last four years has proven that.

*The Gravity: Why does everyone get pulled in*  

Gravity is mass and pull/attention, Nigerian politics has both now in record amount, though it is likely to decline as some of first timers weakling politicians and social media influencers are no longer operating at the level they did in 2023, political godfather's and electoral management officers taught them lessons they will not forget so soon.

1. Culture and Ethnicity is the campaign*: Prevalent ethnicity turn by turn and the new cultural trend of Influencers forming public opinion is generating more of the gravitational force than reasonable blueprint of redemption for Nigeria. From Fela’s yabis to Burna’s "Monsters You Made", music does what manifestos can’t. A single tweet from Wizkid or Davido shifts more votes than a party rally in some states. "Soro Soke" from 2020 EndSARS became the campaign language in 2023. Peter Obi’s movement was powered less by party structure and more by Afrobeats fans, skit makers, Twitter spaces. Davido, Falz, Aisha Yesufu became de facto campaign managers. For the first time, a candidate’s Spotify playlist mattered as much as his party manifesto.  

2. Youth are the mass: 70% of Nigerians are under 35.. That’s not just a demographic. It’s a gravitational field. "Obidients", "Soro Soke", "No gree for anybody" Apagunmanians, in the Ogun State Labour Party fast spreading across the southwest— these weren’t party slogans. They were cultural movements that dragged politics into everyday talk. They were not bought, or sought, they were pulled by the force of gravity, they organically sprouted as a movement beyond party boundaries to fill in the political cavity..

INEC said over 37m voters collected PVCs before 2023, and most were 18-34. That’s gravity. TikTok explainers on BVAS got more views than NTA debates. In 2027, that mass is older, more cynical, and already organizing on WhatsApp communities and X Spaces before parties even pick candidates.  

3. Outrage is the orbit: Bad news travels faster than policy. One viral video of police brutality or failed infrastructure pulls more attention than a 50-page budget. Once you’re in orbit, silence feels like betrayal. My daughter engaged me on social media visibility and wishes someone will drag her, particularly someone whose followers runs to millions, which will advertently rubbed on her media visibility, but having a media visibility without a matching ground structure sometimes make a political party fizzle out in the shortest period of time. Imagine the "Ikeja City Mall protest", "Obidients" Twitter trends, even APC's "Emilokan clips" ---these pulled more national conversation than traditional rallies. If it didn't trend, it didn't exist. Contents creators and campaign strategists are already being engaged rather than the ward coordinators for 2027 elections .

The Cavity: The empty space inside the noise*  

Cavity is the hollow part between sound and substance, the 2023's noise and the 2027's risk.

2023 has already exposed the influence of the social media in shaping public opinion, but that of 2027 will surely deepen it. For all the noise, the center is often empty.  

1. Sound over substance: We debate vibes, not data. "He’s young" vs "He’s experienced" replaces "Here’s his plan for power". Hashtags trend for 48 hours, then vanish. We spent months arguing BVAS, IReV, "upload issues". Huge noise, but little post-election deep-dive on electoral reform from citizens. The trend died after the Supreme Court judgment. Sound came, substance left.  

2. Performance over policy: Politicians now campaign like influencers. Photo ops with less town halls meeting and engagement with electorates at the grassroots. Dance videos greater debt profiles. The stage is full, but the script is thin. Slogans beat policies: "Renewed Hope", "Take Back Nigeria", "Emilokan". Catchy, yes. But ask 10 voters to explain the actual policy difference on power or FX and the room goes quiet. 2027 is already shaping up with early slogans before white papers.  

3. Amnesia over accountability: Each scandal resets the conversation. We remember the outrage, forget the follow-up. The space echoes, but nothing solid stays inside.Lekki tollgate, cash scarcity protests, subsidy removal pain. Each dominated feeds for days, then vanished when the next viral video dropped. No sustained pressure, no scorecards. The hall echoes, but nothing sticks to the walls

 

The Captivity: How the game keeps us locked?

Captivity is the cage both leaders and citizens built.  

1. Party structures: Godfather politics, delegate buying, zoning formulas. New voices enter, but the rules don’t change, hopes are raised when new leaders are being ushered in, but before you blink your eyes twice, you realize that a well known devil is better than an imaginary angel. You can shout, but you still play by their playbook. Even shouting is an offense, and if you fail to shout, how will you be heard?. In order for them to secure their offices, they replaced a lawful and legally backed state Congresses up to twenty one state in the case of my political party with a stroke of pen in a lofty office in Abuja against the will of the people who lined up under a scorching sun to vote whom the knew, want and believed in 

2. Clout incentives: For citizens, speaking up brings likes but also risk. Cancel culture, EFCC threats, "they will come for you". So we perform activism instead of organizing it.  

3. Fear as bars: Fear of the past. Fear of "the other tribe". Fear of wasting your vote. That fear keeps voters choosing "lesser evil" instead of "better idea". Everyone knows the cage exists. Few test the lock.

Can we break the pattern?

Gravity won’t disappear. Culture will always pull people into politics, and that’s good. But a space can’t survive on gravity alone. The cavity needs filling: with policy literacy, with local organizing, with attention spans longer than a trend. The captivity needs testing: by new candidates, by issue-based voting, by citizens who move from tweets to wards.

Nigerian politics is loud, magnetic, and stuck. The question isn’t whether we feel the pull. It’s whether we’ll fill the hollow, and find the key. 2023 gave us the loudest political pop space Nigeria has ever seen, 2027 will decide if we use that noise to build something solid, or just turn the volume up again. 

*Apagun Olaolu Samuel*

Chairman 

Labour Party, Ogun State

STOP THE CIRCULATION OF THE MANIPULATED SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS LIST: AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP OF LABOUR PARTY OGUN STATE CONGRESS CRIES OUT

Apagun Olaolu Samuel 

ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA -- The Labour Party, Ogun State Secretariat, wishes to set the record straight regarding the successful Congress held at the Ogun State Labour Party Secretariat on April 25th, 2026.

It has come to our attention that an unauthorized and substituted list containing erroneous names is currently being circulated to the public and media. This act is false, misleading, and intended to cause confusion within the party and among stakeholders.

For clarity and official record, the authentic and duly elected officers of the Congress are:

Chairman: Apagun Olaolu Samuel

Secretary: Tosin Ogunbamiro

Any other names being paraded as Chairman and Secretary of the April 25th Congress are fake, null, and void. They do not represent the will of the delegates nor the outcome of the congress.

We view this deliberate act of substitution as a criminal case of *conspiracy, forgery, and perjury*. The perpetrators of this dastardly act will be made to face the full weight of the law. Legal action will commence and the matter is already before the legal team.

The Labour Party remains committed to due process, transparency, and the rule of law. We urge party members, the media, and the general public to disregard the list as it was doctored to satisfy the convenience of few against the results of the Congress as monitored and observed by the INEC, Police and the DSS.

Signed,  

Apagun Olaolu Samuel 

*Ogun State Labour Party Secretariat*

Architect Dr Peter Agada on the Labour Institute of Nigeria

DR PETER AGADA 

An Institute for the Propagation and Development of the True Policies and Ideology of the Labour Party as It Currently Runs World Over_

1. MANDATE & VISION

The Labour Institute of Nigeria is established as a non-partisan policy, research, and leadership development institution dedicated to institutionalizing the core ideologies of the global labour movement within Nigeria’s democratic framework.

Modeled after the intellectual architecture that sustains Labour Parties in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other established democracies, the Institute’s mandate is to move labour politics beyond electoral cycles into permanent systems of governance, policy design, and social contract renewal.

2. CORE FUNCTIONS

The Institute operates through four pillars, drawing direct parallels with UK Labour’s ecosystem:

Pillar Function UK Equivalent

Policy Development Unit; Researches and drafts legislation on wages, decent work, social protection, industrial policy, and public services. Converts labour congress resolutions into actionable government blueprints. Labour Party Policy Forum + Resolution Foundation

Ideology & Political Education;  Develops curriculum and training for aspirants, elected officials, and union leaders on social democracy, collective bargaining, and wealth redistribution. Codifies the Nigerian Labour Charter. The Fabian Society + Socialist Educational Association

**Systems & Governance Lab; Designs internal party systems for candidate selection, ward administration, and digital democracy. Ensures transparency, anti-corruption, and zoning compliance with constitutional law. Labour Party NEC + Constitutional Arrangements Committee

International Labour Bureau** Interfaces with ILO, TUC UK, ITUC, and sister Labour Parties to domesticate global best practices on just transition, gig economy, and worker ownership. Labour International + Labour Party International Office

3. HOW IT DIFFERS FROM A REGULAR POLITICAL PARTY

A political party contests elections. The Labour Institute builds the intellectual and institutional scaffolding that makes labour governments possible and successful.

1. Policy Continuity: While party leadership may change, the Institute maintains a 20-year National Labour Development Plan covering health, education, housing, and industrialization.

2. Leadership Pipeline: Through the _LabourDirect Fellowship_, it trains 8,809 ward coordinators annually in budget analysis, community organizing, and parliamentary procedure.

3. Evidence-Based Politics: Publishes the _Annual State of Nigerian Labour Report_ using NBS, ILO, and NLC data to set national discourse, similar to the UK’s _Institute for Public Policy Research_.

4. Ideological Custodianship: Prevents policy drift by maintaining the _Labour Red Book_ — a codified set of non-negotiable principles on privatization, minimum wage, and public ownership, akin to Clause IV of the UK Labour Party Constitution.

4. THE UK MODEL: PRECEDENT FOR NIGERIA

In the United Kingdom, the Labour Party’s durability rests not just on unions, but on institutions like:

1. The Fabian Society : Drafted the original welfare state proposals that became the NHS and council housing.

2. The TUC Economics Department: Provides shadow cabinets with costed manifesto alternatives each election cycle.

3. Labour Together & Policy Network: Think tanks that stress-test policies for electability and fiscal credibility.[1884]

The Labour Institute of Nigeria adapts this tripartite model: Movement + Research + Governance. It ensures that when labour candidates win, they inherit tested systems, not empty manifestoes.

5. CURRENT PROGRAMMES 

a. #LabourDirect Platform: Digital ward congress system with 12,047 verified member endorsements, ensuring bottom-up candidate legitimacy.

b. Local Government Charter: Standardized service delivery benchmarks for all LIN-elected LGA Chairmen on primary healthcare, schools, and market infrastructure.

c. Just Transition Commission: Designing Nigeria’s framework for oil-sector decarbonization without mass job losses, in partnership with NUPENG and PENGASSAN.[2026]

6. RELATIONSHIP WITH ORGANIZED LABOUR

The Institute is accountable to the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress through an annual _Labour Policy Conference_. NLC and TUC occupy 40% of Board seats, ensuring that policy originates from workers, not consultants.

Conclusion

The Labour Institute of Nigeria exists to answer one question: _What happens the day after a labour candidate wins?_ By building systems, training leaders, and codifying policy, it ensures that labour ideology translates into schools built, wages paid, and industries revived. It is the bridge between protest and governance.

LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT AS OGUN LABOUR PARTY CLOSE RANKS TO PRESENT UNIFIED CANDIDATES

Mojisola O. Àjàyí

ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE — In a show of political unity, the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party closed ranks in the late hours of April 30th 2026, to present a joint consensus slate after marathon negotiations that stretched through the night of April 30th from 3:00 pm in the evening.

The protracted, energy-sapping meeting held in Abeokuta saw the two major divides within the party set aside differences to forge a single front ahead of this election cycle. 

After hours of consultations, the party announced Mrs Mojisola O. Àjàyí as its consensus governorship candidate. Other key positions on the ticket were also filled through the same consensus agreement, though the party said full details of the slate would be released after official documentation is perfected..

Party leaders described the outcome as a “landmark achievement” for the Labour Party in Ogun, noting that the decision to present unified candidates was reached after protracted, energy sapping long hours of meeting that lasted till late night. 

“This is what democracy looks like when interests are subordinated to the collective good,” a senior party chieftain said. “We went in as factions, we came out as one family with Mrs Mojisola O. Àjàyí leading the charge.”

Political observers say the unified presentation removes a major source of tension within the Ogun Labour Party and positions the party to campaign with one voice. The consensus arrangement is expected to strengthen the party’s structure across the state’s 20 local government areas while they synergize to strategies and develop an action plan to kick out the incumbent political party out of governance.

Mrs Àjàyí, a grassroots mobilizer, addressed the press after  Apagun Olaolu Samuel and Yeye Olubukola Aṣabi Soyoye jointly unveiled and presented her to the good people of Ogun State at an International Press Conference yesterday at Iwe-iroyin House, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

Labour Party Playing Tinubu's Cards, Picked Administrative Officer as Presidential Candidate

Labour Party disqualified those who are willing and seriously ready for the presidential race and picked an admin officer at the national Secretariat.

Senator Nenadi Esther Usman led National Working Committee and Alex Otti of Abia State have earnestly compromised the party.

They only end up clearing and administrative officer at the national secretariat Okereke, Sunday Chibuzo never obtained nomination forms or expression of interest form as the presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

STAY OFF; REMAIN CALM: OGUN STATE LP CHAIR WRITES MEMBERS

Apagun 

I am constrained to write this notice having been inundated by several calls of threats, warning and an in-depth investigation by several people within and outside of the state, to establish a case of planning to arrest, molest and cause confusion before and during their scheduled primary elections for tomorrow. 

For clarity, I, Apagun Olaolu Samuel have no reason to even conceive it as it was a figment of there imagination and bored out of the reminiscence of their past deeds employed against us. 

Nevertheless, as it stands today, I remained the authentic Chairman of the Labour Party Ogun State as it has not been invalidated through court process, the names were transmitted to Abuja via INEC Ogun State with reports covering it. Let it also be known that our team of legal luminaries headed by our pragmatic legal adviser are already studying the situation and will come with their report soonest for ratification and action plan. 

Furthermore, this act of daylight robbery, perjury and forgery shall be contested. To establish their depravity, a viral video doctored by them showing me prostrating for one of the national leader in Abuja is been widely distributed by them to pull me down, prostrating for an elder is part of the enriched tradition and culture of Yoruba land of which I greatly cherish. We all know those who did the April 25 Congress and those who won convincingly, any other Congress done outside this should be supported with facts and evidences. 

Having said these, please stay away from the primaries scheduled for tomorrow as they may unleash a calculated disruption and terror on you to frame you

Obedience is better than sacrifice, STAY CLEAR, STAY OFF, REMAIN CALM as further notifications  and instructions shall be provided through this channel. 

Forward Ever! 

Apagun Olaolu Samuel 

Chairman, Labour Party Ogun State

BREAKING: Oyo State Labour Party Chair Sir Dele Abiola Resigns From The Party

 

Sir Dele Abiola 

The Congress Elected State Chairman of Oyo State Labour Party Sir Dele Abiola has resigned from the party.

In letter signed and addressed to the National Chairman of the party Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, Sir Dele Abiola tendered an official resignation from the Labour Party with an immediate effect.

According to the (now)  former Chairman, Together with comrades and stunt supporters of an ideal opposition political party, even in the labour Unions and beyond, I have served this party diligently as the Chairman in Oyo State with an unwavering loyalty through tick and thin.

"Unfortunately, the directions of the present leadership through recent actions of the National Leadership have overtly demonstrated that the Labour Party is in the hands of a clique with no regards for justice, fairness, equity, internal democracy and regards for hardwork and loyalty."

"The party's structure in Oyo  State has been outrightly handed over to individuals who seriously opposed this present national leadership,."

"Congresses that were duly validated at the Umuahia National Convention have been arbitrarily thwarted, declared null and void by a kangaroo harmonization committee without a guidelines until it was questioned.  Delegates from the same congresses elected the substantive National Executive Committee members who are now intentionally causing havocs at the State working committee level."

READ THE LETTER UN FULL: 

 

LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM THE LABOUR PARTY

Date: 29th May, 2026

To:

The National Chairman

Labour Party

Abuja, Nigeria

  Resignation from the Labour Party

Dear Comrades,

I, Sir Dele Abiola hereby tender an official resignation from the Labour Party with an immediate effect.

Together with comrades and stunt supporters of an ideal opposition political party, even in the labour Unions and beyond, I have served this party diligently as the Chairman in Oyo State with an unwavering loyalty through tick and thin.

Unfortunately, the directions of the present leadership through recent actions of the National Leadership have overtly demonstrated that the Labour Party is in the hands of a clique with no regards for justice, fairness, equity, internal democracy and regards for hardwork and loyalty.

The party's structure in Oyo  State has been outrightly handed over to individuals who seriously opposed this present national leadership,.

Congresses that were duly validated at the Umuahia National Convention have been arbitrarily thwarted, declared null and void by a kangaroo harmonization committee without a guidelines until it was questioned.  Delegates from the same congresses elected the substantive National Executive Committee members who are now intentionally causing havocs at the State working committee level.

A so-called "harmonization committee" with unnecessary vested interests has replaced legitimately elected state executives with the Abure's led EXCOS which the national convention Invalidated in OYO state.

, .

All indications from various conversations only confirmed that the Labour Party is actually not going into the 2027 general elections for any serious context but to work for the incumbent ruling APC government. These actions reveal a party that is not truly prepared to win elections, serve the people's interest, or operate democratically. 

The Labour Party under this leadership has reverted to transactional politics and personal vendettas on mere hearsays..

.

Politics is matter of alignment and realignment, I shall in due cause identify with like minds in the journey for a democratically prosperous country. 

I sincerely thank the Labour Unions, Political Commission, those genuine comrades, faithful members of the party that have always been there with us during the struggle days.who fought alongside me.  The struggle for good governance can never be less that the struggle for independence, it can only be more that it. Forward ever.

Yours sincerely,

Sir Oludele Abiola 

Former Chairman, Oyo State Labour Party.

· cc:

NLC/TUC Political Commission 

NLC President 

South West concerned Leaders 

Press

ATTEMPTED ADMINISTRATIVE COUP IN OGUN LABOUR PARTY: Members Demand National Leadership Intervention Over Alleged Substitution of Congress Winners

Abeokuta, Ogun State: — Concerned members of the Labour Party in Ogun State have raised alarm over what they describe as an “attempted administrative coup” following the conduct of the April 25, 2025 State Congress, alleging unauthorized replacement and substitution of the names of officers who participated, and were declared winners under the supervision of regulatory agencies.

The congress, held on April 25 in Abeokuta, was monitored and observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS), in line with Section 82(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines on party congresses. 

According to party members present at the exercise, the process was concluded with a list of duly elected officers and delegates ratified on site. However, reports circulating within the state chapter indicate that a different list containing substituted names has surfaced on the party's loop by one Mr. Akeeb Adesola, a childhood and political ally of one former gubernatorial aspirant in the state who for long has had his eye on hijacking the party structures, known to be a transactional and sleepy sleeky politicians through an unholy alliance consumated by him with the PDP in 2023 general elections, subverting and mismanaging the financial proceeds emanating from the deal is now the Hackman allegedly replacing those who emerged through the monitored process.

Most recently, while Apagun was addressing the press on the matter, he stated unequivocally that  "democracy dies not with a bang, but with the quiet stroke of a pen replacing what the people have already chosen. What we are witnessing in the presumed actions of the National Working Committee is not party administration. It is the deliberate erasure of due process and the substitution of the will of the people with the convenience of a few."  

“This is not just an internal disagreement. It is an attempt to subvert the will of the members and undermine the integrity of an exercise witnessed by INEC, the Police, and DSS, and a report to that effect should be brought forward by the Congress Committee as appointed by the National leadership or that of the official report by the INEC, to substantiate their claims, a party elder from Ogun Central said. “If the original list observed by the authorities is not upheld, it will erode trust in the party and expose us to avoidable litigation.”They will have to show us where their purported Congress took place with evidence said another.

Members warn that proceeding with the substituted list risks plunging the party into another round of legal battles similar to those that have previously distracted and decimated the Labour Party across the nation. They argue that such a move contradicts the party’s constitution and national directives on adherence to due process and observed procedures.

The uproar within the ranks and file has grown in recent days, with ward and local government executives calling for urgent clarification and corrective action. Several members have immediately left the platform while others threatened to approach the courts if the national leadership fails to intervene and restore the outcome of the April 25 congress as monitored.

“We are drawing the attention of the National Chairman, the National Working Committee, to this development,” a statement from the concerned members reads. “Silence or inaction at this stage will be interpreted as endorsement of impunity, and the party will bear the consequences.”

They are urging the national leadership to:

1. Retrieve and compare the list submitted to the national secretariat against the list signed and observed by INEC, Police, and DSS on April 25.

2. Uphold the original outcome of the congress in line with the Electoral Act and party guidelines.

3. Discipline any official found culpable of altering or substituting the names of duly elected members.

4. Re-engage stakeholders in Ogun State to prevent further escalation and preserve party unity ahead of upcoming political activities.

The Labour Party national secretariat has not issued an official response as of press time.

Aside Ogun State labour Party, there have been reported case in different states like Oyo, Kogi, Plateau and others that the names of the Congress duly elected persons were either changed or outrightly jettisoned for Abure led group or certain loyalists who never partake in any State Congress. Is this not impunity?

The party's National Convention in Umuahia, Abia State approved the States Congresses and Invalidated the Abure congresses. For the National Leadership to revert to otherwise calls for concerns that the party's BOT must look into.

Party observers note that unresolved disputes at the state level have historically led to protracted legal disputes that weakened the party’s electoral performance. With 2027 approaching, members say the handling of the Ogun situation will signal whether the party intends to enforce internal democracy and genuine intentions to win the upcoming general elections or tolerate administrative manipulation.

Wave Of Defections Hits Imo Labour Party, Senate Candidate Resigns as Abure Loyalists enthroned

The Labour Party (LP) in Imo State is facing a major crisis following a wave of resignations by senior members, including a prominent Senate candidate as a result of lingering crises within the national structure of the party.

The National Convention in Umuahia, Abia State among the eleven resolutions reached approved the congresses conducted nationwide. The convention also Invalidated illegal congresses conducted by the supreme Court sacked Julius Abure. Senior INEC officers attended the Umuahia Convention.

In the name of reconciliation and harmonization which ensured that. Abure Loyalists were appointed into the national working committee of the party, the state structures and Congress Elected officers have been reported removed and their names may not be submitted to the INEC .


In Imo State, Deacon Chuka Solomon Obaego, a leading figure in the party and Senate aspirant for the Okigwe Zone (Imo North), formally resigned from the Labour Party with effect from April 30, 2026.


Obaego, who hails from Umuoke in Obowo Local Government Area, had been campaigning under the banner of “A Golden Dawn.”His departure has triggered a chain reaction, with several other party officials across the state also submitting their resignation letters.


Sources within the party described the exits as a “coordinated withdrawal” from the Labour Party’s structure in the state.


Although the resignation letters did not explicitly state reasons, insiders point to growing internal tensions and strategic realignments by members ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the reports, the mass defection has created significant operational gaps for the Labour Party, particularly in Imo North Senatorial Zone, at a time of intense political realignment across Imo State.


As of Tuesday, the Labour Party leadership in Imo State had yet to issue an official statement on the development.


The exodus comes amid reports of lingering crises within the national structure of the Labour Party, further weakening the party’s position in the South-East state.

The overwhelming general opinions of members who stood with the part during the crisis is that nothing should displaced any Congress Elected officers of the party at any level and that the guidelines for harmonization should be strictly followed. Those working currently with the Nenadi Esther Usman are orchestrating plans in different states aiming at dislodging the State Structures for Abure men to take over. 

The uncertainty in the party is majorly responsible for the low turnout of the aspirants obtaining expression of interest forms and nomination forms of the Labour Party.

Julius Abure Sets to Dislodge Nenadi from within as reconciliation talks with Otti collapsed

The Labour Party's Factional National Chairman Julius Abure, has dismissed speculations that reconciliation talks between his camp and Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, collapsed over alleged financial demands, insisting that money was never discussed during the closed-door meeting. Punch newspaper reported Wednesday.

The supreme Court sacked former chairman disclosed this in an interview with  news men amid a lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.

The National leader of the party and governor of Abia State Alex Otti had last month declared that the Labour Party remained open to reconciliation with Abure and his loyalists ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Otti had made the remark during the inaugural meeting of the party’s National Working Committee held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, where he attended as an observer.

The party during the National Convention had absorbed some of his loyalists and through consensus appointed them into important NWC positions. Notable among them is Madam Hilda Dokubo who is now the National women's Leader of the party under Nenadi Esther Usman led National Working Committee.

But speaking with Newsmen , Abure clarified that the recent engagement with Otti was strictly convened to explore reconciliation and chart a path toward unity within the party, but eventually ended in a deadlock over disagreements surrounding the control and structures of the party while his loyalists are already penetrating the structures at all levels under Nenadi.

While He (Abure) said the talks failed because Otti allegedly insisted that the existing Abure's structure be dissolved before any reconciliation could move forward. Sources confirmed that already the Abure loyalists have infiltrated the ranks and files of the party's structures both at the national and States levels to deray and dislodge the Nenadi leadership by any means possible.

With the pressures from within now around the National Chairman, the decisions of the party at the national convention and congresses organized and approved at the convention are been jetitioned and disregarded as many state leadership under Nenadi are currently been discarded.

Certain sources with the party argued that if Abure and his followers would be absorbed into the legally and authentic structure of the Labour Party, it should be after all of Abure's litigation against the party at the supreme Court discarded. They urged Nenadi to be careful and keep her structures  Nationwide.

Abure said : “We need to make it categorically clear that the meeting we had with Governor Otti was purely for reconciliation and how to forge ahead. But that meeting produced no headway because the governor refused to give an inch due to his earlier recalcitrant stand.

First, to share the positions in the NWC. Secondly, to take his governorship ticket and produce all the state House of Assembly candidates, including all the candidates for House of Representatives and Senate in Abia state.

Lastly, to produce any other governorship, House of Representatives and senatorial candidates in other states where he might have an interest.

“We further conceded the offices of the National Secretary and other key national offices. But with all these sacrifices from the leadership, the governor declined all the proposals and insisted that all positions in the NWC have already been filled by him, while offering us the Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees.”

Abure also rejected allegations that he demanded financial inducement from the governor as part of the reconciliation process, describing the claims as false and deliberate misinformation.

“We also need to make it very clear that a lot of misconceptions have been spreading, probably deliberately, that the leadership of the Labour Party requested huge sums of money from Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, to reconcile.

“At no time was the issue of money discussed. Nobody made any financial requests, and nobody offered any money to anyone. We are therefore calling on all party members and supporters to disregard the fake news, whose sources are not too difficult to decipher,” he clarified.

The factional chairman expressed disappointment over the outcome of the reconciliation effort, blaming what he described as Otti’s intransigence for the collapse of the talks.

Abure further stated that his leadership would continue efforts to “recover the party” from what he termed “political buccaneers and merchants” allegedly bent on destabilising the Labour Party.

While he expressed confidence that the lingering leadership dispute would eventually be resolved by the Supreme Court following the appeal filed at the apex court, his loyalists within the continually recognized Nenadi led NWC team are already doing internal damaging and strategic move to reposition the Abure structures within the system.

There were clear indications that neither of the two sides are not willing to support the Nigeria's incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the ruling APC. Members of Abure factions had more than two months ago declared support for the incumbent President, while Nenadi Esther Usman have not openly endorsed the president, members of her NWC from southern Zones have reportedly been routing for Tinubu while LP members in the National Assembly are also reportedly supporting the president.

The endless legal struggles and the victory secured from Court will become meaning if Abure can dislodged from within,  and very useless if both agreed to work and support the anti people Leadership of Bola Hammed Tinubu.

Nigerians who are at the receiving end of the bad governance and who genuinely want a change of leadership in the country through any of the opposition political parties have to do a rethink  and thorough re-evaluation.

Diaspora Labour Party Chapter Enthusiastically Endorses Bold, Free Nomination Forms to Empower Youth and Women Leaders for a New Nigeria

Washington DC, May 20, 2026

The Labour Party LP) diaspora chapter is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative led by our National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, aimed at democratizing access to political leadership by distributing free nomination forms. This initiative is designed specifically to empower competent youths, women, and other underrepresented groups in our society, enabling them to compete for various political positions in the upcoming elections.

In a press conference held on May 18, 2026, Barr. Abure articulated the party's commitment to enhancing political participation by removing the financial barriers that often deter qualified candidates from seeking office. He emphasized the Labour Party's mission to uplift the voices of those who have been historically marginalized, stating, “This initiative is a pivotal step towards lifting the burden of monetization in our political landscape. We believe that every Nigerian, regardless of their financial background, deserves the opportunity to lead and effect change.”

*Key Highlights of the Initiative*

*Free Nomination Forms*

All nomination forms for various political positions will be available at no cost. Aspirants can easily download the forms from Labour Party’s official platforms, fill them out, and submit them to their respective state chairpersons.

*Targeting Youth and Women*

This initiative is particularly focused on empowering youths and women, who are crucial for driving innovation and change in Nigeria's political landscape.

*Encouraging Competence over Wealth*

By eliminating fees associated with candidacy, the Labour Party aims to prioritize competence and integrity over financial power, fostering a new generation of leaders who can represent the interests of all Nigerians.

*Upcoming Primaries*

The party's governorship and state Houses of Assembly primaries are scheduled for May 27, 2026, followed by House of Representatives and Senate primaries on May 29, 2026. A consensus-driven selection process for the presidential candidate will also take place on the same day in Abuja.

Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, Chairman of the Diaspora Labour Party Chapter, endorsed this initiative, highlighting its alignment with the Labour Party's core values of inclusivity and social justice. He stated, “This initiative is not merely about politics; it’s about giving hope and representation to those who have been overlooked for too long. We are excited to see the positive impact this will have on our communities as we work towards a new Nigeria.”

As the Labour Party prepares for the 2027 elections, we call on all eligible individuals to seize this opportunity and participate in shaping the future of our nation. Together, we can build a political landscape that reflects the diversity and strength of our great nation.

Prof. Eddie Oparaoji  

Chairman, Diaspora Labour Party Chapter &

Director General, Directorate of International and Diaspora Affairs (DIDA)

THE BLOOMING LOOMING DOOM OF NEWLY RESUSCITATED PARTY — Apagun

Abeokuta, Nigeria

Apagun

In a virtual interview with the crew of HOTNEWS Naija, Apagun Olaolu Samuel bared his mind on the strange development in the Labour Party, the systemic administrative coup through harmonization process after the convention held at Umuahia ratified and validated the National Working Committee, all congresses and revoking all congresses conducted by Abure as witnessed by INEC. What is happening now is a symptom of a diseased, strangulated  and a choked dying party

Democracy dies not with a bang, but with the quiet stroke of a pen replacing what the people have already chosen. What we are witnessing in the actions of the National Working Committee is not party administration. It is the deliberate erasure of due process and the substitution of the will of the people with the convenience of a few. 

Congresses were held. Delegates gathered. INEC officials monitored and certified the process. The DSS and the Nigerian Police were present as witnesses to ensure order and legality. The results were clear, the elected State Working Committee members emerged through a process recognized by law and witnessed by the state itself.

Yet now, names are being swapped. Individuals who never contested, never participated, never faced the scrutiny of a congress, some were not even a registered member of the party by the day of the Congress are being imposed on structures they did not build, a structure built by our struggles with evidences by the total dominance across the twenty local government. This is not reconciliation. This is substitution. It tells every party member that your vote, your participation, and your sacrifice mean nothing if you are not favored by the power drunken leaders.

When a party leadership can override legally conducted congresses and replace elected officials with handpicked loyalists, it sets a dangerous precedent. Today it is the State Working Committee. Tomorrow it will be candidate selection, then the congresses themselves, until the entire structure becomes a mere extension of one office.

The danger is not just to one state or one chapter. The danger is to the very idea that internal democracy matters. If the rules can be bent at will, then no member is safe, and no process is sacred. Apathy grows where trust dies. And a political party without the trust of its members is a shell waiting to collapse.

History is clear on this: organizations that abandon their own rules to reward convenience over legitimacy do not survive the storm. They may hold power for a season, and a reason best known to their sponsors, but they lose the moral authority to lead. The rank and file see it. The public sees it. And when the next election comes, that betrayal is remembered.

The looming doom is not from an external enemy. It is from within, from the choice to value control over credibility, and imposition over process. If this path continues, we will not need an opposition to defeat us. We will have done it to ourselves.

The question before the National Working Committee is simple: will you uphold the congresses you supervised and conducted through the committee constituted by your office with their report? Will you substitute an INEC observed, monitored and supervised Congress with their full report transmitted to the INEC headquarters Abuja, where eight officers of the EPM department were present with two coming from national headquarters?  Or will you bury them for the sake of expediency? The answer will determine whether the party survives as a democratic institution or becomes another cautionary tale of self-sabotage.

What do you think would be the most effective way for party members to push back against this kind of replacement without tearing the party apart? When a neighbour eats an infected garden eggs with pleasure without being cautioned, by the time he is unable to sleep, don't you think deep sleep might be eroded from you also?

LABOUR PARTY: Ogun State Publicity secretary Resigns From The Party

Kika

The Publicity secretary of the Ogun State Labour Party Kika Glasgow resigned his membership of the party.

According to a letter of resignation written on 20th May, 2026, addressed to the National Chairman of the party Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, Kika tendered his formal resignation from the Labour Party with immediate effect.

Kika Glasgow sited recent actions of the National Leadership which have demonstrated that the Labour Party is no longer a vehicle for justice, internal democracy, or the reward of loyalty.

According to him, congresses that were duly validated at the Umuahia National Convention have been arbitrarily declared null and void, even though delegates from those same congresses elected the substantive National Executive Committee members.

The letter reads in Full:

 

LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM THE LABOUR PARTY

Date: 20th May,2026

To:

The National Chairman

Labour Party

Abuja, Nigeria

Through:

The State Chairman

Ogun State Labour Party

Subject: Letter of Resignation from the Labour Party

Dear Comrades,

I, Kika Glasgow, hereby tender my formal resignation from the Labour Party, effective immediately.

I have served this party diligently as the Publicity Secretary in Ogun State, remaining loyal to the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee since November 2024. I stood with this leadership through court battles and against intimidation—including arrests and disruption of our meetings by security operatives instigated by opposition forces within our state.

Unfortunately, the recent actions of the National Leadership have demonstrated that the Labour Party is no longer a vehicle for justice, internal democracy, or the reward of loyalty. Specifically:

1. Despite our unwavering support, the party's structure in Ogun State has been handed over to individuals who recently opposed this leadership, manipulated security agencies against us, and now falsely claim loyalty for personal gain.

2. Congresses that were duly validated at the Umuahia National Convention have been arbitrarily declared null and void, even though delegates from those same congresses elected the substantive National Executive Committee members.

3. A so-called "harmonization committee" with vested interests has replaced legitimately elected state executives with handpicked loyalists, particularly in states of strategic interest.

4. The Deputy National Chairman, Mrs. Nike Oriola, has conducted herself with vindictiveness, openly replacing anyone she personally dislikes or who has previously offended her—an unacceptable trait in a leadership that claims to be democratic.

These actions reveal a party that is not truly prepared to win elections, serve the people's interest, or operate democratically. Rather, the Labour Party under this leadership has reverted to transactional politics and personal vendettas.

I can no longer remain in a party where loyalty is punished, deception is rewarded, and personal grudges determine organizational outcomes. I intend to join a genuinely democratic political party where committed members are allowed to benefit from their loyalty.

Furthermore, I wish to state clearly that the entire structure of the Labour Party in Odeda Local Government will move with me to join another political party.

I thank those genuine comrades who fought alongside me. I wish the Labour Party well, but I cannot continue under this leadership or structure.

Yours sincerely,

Kika Glasgow

Former Publicity Secretary (Ogun State Labour Party)

08138192339

Copy to:

· Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ogun State Office

· Labour Party National Secretariat

THE ILLEGALITY OF JULIUS ABURE PRESENTING CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS UNDER THE LABOUR PARTY

By Dr Monday Ubani, SAN.

Legally recognized National Chairman
of Labour Party Senator Nenadi Esther Usman 

The persistent attempt by Mr. Julius Abure to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party and to recently announce some candidates in his purported primary elections under the platform of the Labour Party has become not only legally indefensible but a direct assault on the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.

The issue of the leadership of the Labour Party has already been conclusively determined by the courts, culminating in the decision of the Supreme Court, which made it abundantly clear that the tenure of Julius Abure and his executive had since expired. The apex court recognized the caretaker leadership that emerged to stabilize the party and restore order. In particular, the leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman was acknowledged as the legitimate authority steering the affairs of the party pending a proper convention. 

Ordinarily, in a country governed by law, that should have ended the matter.

However, rather than submit to the finality of judicial pronouncements as demanded by the Constitution and democratic norms, Mr. Abure chose the dangerous route of forum shopping and judicial adventurism. He returned to the trial court in a desperate bid to revive a dead mandate. The courts, both at the trial level and at the Court of Appeal, reportedly made it clear to him that the matter had been settled and that peace should be allowed to reign within the party.

Yet, in complete disregard of these judicial pronouncements, Mr. Abure has continued to act as though he remains the authentic leader of the Labour Party. 

Most astonishing is his purported organization of parallel primaries and the presentation of candidates for elections under the party’s platform, despite the fact that the Labour Party has since held a valid national convention where Senator Nenadi Usman was affirmed as the substantive National Chairman alongside other duly elected executives.

This conduct is not merely provocative; it is profoundly dangerous to constitutional democracy.

Impostor: Julius Abure
with FCT minister Wike

A political party is not a lawless association where individuals can operate according to personal whims. It is an institution regulated by the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the party’s constitution, and the decisions of competent courts. Once the courts have spoken with finality, every person, no matter how highly placed, is bound to obey.

The attempt to run a parallel structure after lawful leadership has emerged amounts to political mischief of the highest order. It creates confusion among party members, deceives unsuspecting aspirants and supporters, and undermines the credibility of the electoral system.

 Worse still, it exposes innocent candidates to avoidable legal disasters, as candidates presented by unauthorized persons or unlawful structures may ultimately find their nominations invalidated by the courts.

One must ask: what exactly is the objective of this persistent defiance by Mr. Abure? No democracy can thrive where individuals place themselves above the law. Nigeria cannot afford to become a laughing stock before the international community because of the reckless conduct of politicians who refuse to accept lawful decisions. The sanctity of judicial pronouncements must be respected if democracy is to survive.

It is even more troubling that a legal practitioner would be associated with conduct that appears to undermine settled judicial decisions. Lawyers are ministers in the temple of justice and are expected to uphold the rule of law, not ridicule it through acts capable of bringing the legal profession into disrepute. 

The Rules of Professional Conduct imposes a duty on lawyers to maintain respect for the courts and the administration of justice.

 Persistent disregard for binding decisions raises serious ethical and disciplinary concerns that the appropriate professional bodies may eventually need to examine.

The security agencies must not fold their arms while this avoidable confusion festers. Where an individual continues to impersonate authority, create parallel political structures, and generate tension capable of disrupting public peace and electoral order, the relevant authorities have a duty to intervene decisively within the bounds of the law. Enough is enough.

Nigeria must move away from the era where political actors behave as though the law is optional. Democracy survives on discipline, order, and respect for institutions. Once the courts have spoken, every patriotic citizen ought to bow to the supremacy of the law.

Mr. Abure must therefore desist from further acts capable of misleading the public, deceiving unsuspecting aspirants, and destabilizing the Labour Party. Any continued attempt to unlawfully parade himself as Chairman of the party or present candidates under an illegal structure may amount not only to political fraud on innocent party members and supporters, but also a deliberate misrepresentation capable of attracting serious legal consequences. 

Members of the public, aspirants, and political stakeholders are therefore strongly advised to exercise caution and avoid dealing with unauthorized persons or factions whose actions are clearly contrary to established judicial pronouncements and the lawful leadership of the party.

The time has come for all genuine stakeholders to rally around lawful authority, obey court decisions, and allow peace, order, and internal democracy to flourish within the party and the nation at large.

Dr Ubani, a legal practitioner is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a public affairs commentator.

Culled from Hot News Channel

2027 General Elections: AN OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIA'S OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP

By Prince Tony Akeni, Sunday May 17, 2026

ATTENTION:

🔺His Excellency Sen. Seriake Dickson, National Leader NDC

🔺His Excellency Peter Obi, His Excellency Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Presidential Ticket Aspirants NDC

🔺Distinguished Patriot Prof. Pat Utomi, Global Leader The Big Tent

🔺National Executive Councils, NDC, Labour Party and all stakeholders to whom it may concern

The 2027 General Elections, especially the Presidential Ballot, shall be akin to a penalty own goal for both the ruling APC and the consolidated opposition, now led by the NDC. One fatal misstep by APC in the last mile of the race will make the ruling party lose the presidential race to the opposition. In the same vein, one last-mile error in the opposition's roadmap shall cost it the presidential victory, paving way for the second term return of APC to summit power.

This is an urgent call for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Labour Party of Nigeria (LP) to, amongst other matters arising, waive now or drastically reduce to near zero "Party Development" Fees, Expression of Interest Forms for financially disadvantaged aspirants, extend deadlines for obtaining/submission of forms, and subsequently to stagger aspirants screening across new dates.

This is why:

1.  The NDC's triple-step aspirant fees involving Expression of Interest Form, #3million;

Nomination Form  #5million; and what the NDC christens "Development Levy," #20million, totalling #28million for senatorial ticket, are prohibitive and unaffordable to many genuine aspirants and good governance enthusiasts who recently joined the party. To make matters worse, even though the fees are lower for House of Rep and State House of Assembly aspirants, these fees are to be paid within a short blood pumping notice of 14 days. The shortness of the notice to raise these amounts by aspirants affects the majority of them who thronged into the party from when Mr. Peter Obi joined the NDC on Sunday May 2, 2026 up to the high pressure closing date which officially ended at 6pm today Sunday May 17. Labour Party's ended two days ago on Saturday May 15, 2016.

2.  The above condition has constrained numerous potent, ballot winning popular aspirants who could not afford the fees to pull out in frustration. The wailing despair of these aspirants is audible and pandemic across the country and at both the NDC and LP national quarters in Abuja which were visited by monitors.

3.  Owing to the above reason, as aspirants pulled the breaks and some entirely cancelled out their vying interest, the NDC and Labour Party may not have active, viable and effectual candidates in many constituencies across the country unless they timely put in place measures to revisit the exercise and remedy the voids. 

4.  Flowing from Labour Party's experience in the 2023 elections, the far-reaching consequence of these overlooked aspirants vacuum is that the now frontline NDC opposition may win massive votes in many constituencies of the country but the absence of substantive candidates to lead ballot day trenches and to ensure that the party's votes are counted will leave room for sweeping rigging, ballot poaching, projection and announcement of false results by the ruling APC and its conniving institutions. 

5.  Furthermore, aggrieved opposition aspirants who were prevented from participating in the election because of their inability to meet the NDC's "unaffordable" Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms and "Development Levy" will be unenthusiastic to defend the votes of their constituencies for the NDC or NDC-LP coalition, if such alliance or similar fraternal ballot coalition came to play. 

6.  The frustration of being disallowed from being candidates will also make some previously pro-opposition actors become willing tools and easy converts to sellout the opposition's ballot harvests in their constituencies to the ruling party.

7.  Also from the experience of Labour Party in the 2023 elections, you will recall that the initial low affordability of LP aspirant forms and outright waivers in some cases enabled okada riders and candidates of similar low economic class to win elections on the party's platform. NDC, LP or any visionary opposition coalition will do itself a whale of good to replicate this template. This is because where a political party has active candidates, in the process of working hard to sell their candidacy to the electorates, they stamp the presence, strength and ballot teeth of their party in their constituency by installing effective party agents for victory. This will help the NDC and LP to have polling unit troops and vote protection loyalists in every constituency across Nigeria to checkmate rigging or announcement of false results, vices the ruling party is unprecedentedly noted for.

8.  Subsequent to the above, the NDC and LP should, as additional stratagem, make room for place-holding aspirants to fill every elective slot throughout the country, ensuring that such place-holders would seamlessly withdraw for substantive candidates before the expiration of INEC's candidates submission deadline. 

9.  Finally, to accommodate the initiatives propounded above, one will strongly urge that both the NDC, LP or any other partnership in the new post-ADC coalition should, as a matter of necessity, extend the deadline for collection and submission of forms, and their screening dates staggered accordingly as long as such extensions fall within INEC's political party activities timetable.

Conclusion

The 2027 General Elections, especially the Presidential Ballot, shall be akin to a penalty own goal for both the ruling APC and the consolidated opposition now led by the NDC. One fatal misstep by APC in the last mile of the race will make the ruling party lose the presidential race to the opposition. In the same vein, one last mile error in opposition's roadmap shall cost it the presidential victory, paving way for the second term return of APC to summit power. The high aspirant fees and levies currently governing the NDC and LP workbooks, the parties' respective deadlines for submission of forms and NDC's subsequent choke-notice screening are one misstep a wit too early, and should be revisited.

In the letter and spirit of the common commitment to save democracy in our fatherland, 

I am

Comrade Prince Tony Akeni Le Moin

National Convener,

Nigeria Cannot Continue Like This (NCC-LIT),

Save Democracy Mega Alliance (SDMA).

INEC ASKS FOR SUBMISSION OF POLITICAL PARTIES' MEMBERSHIP REGISTERS

 

The Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has in a press statement on Saturday asked for the fresh summation of political parties membership registers.

According to the electoral umpire, 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Commission in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026. 

The submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election. The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.

PRESS STATEMENT 

SUBMISSION OF POLITICAL PARTIES' MEMBERSHIP REGISTERS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform Nigerians and stakeholders in the electoral process that all 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Commission in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026. The submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election. The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.

Following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a press statement issued on the 27th of March 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries. Political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.

INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law. The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.

Mohammed Kudu HarunaChairman, Information and Voter Education Committee15th May, 2026

#PHOTOSPEAKS: DR PETER AGADA SUBMITS HIS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION FORM @LQBOUR PARTY NATIONAL OFFICE, ABUJA