The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has deepened following fresh accusations of sabotage and neglect by Prince Tony Akeni, the factional National Publicity Secretary loyal to the camp of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
In a leaked memo dated October 9, 2025, addressed to the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), Akeni expressed frustration over what he described as “intolerable working conditions” and “policy sabotage” within the interim National Working Committee (iNWC) led by Senator Nenadi Usman.
According to Akeni, the Usman-led committee— inaugurated in Umuahia on September 4, 2024 — was tasked with conducting nationwide congresses and an all-inclusive national convention within 90 days.
However, 445 days later, no significant progress had been made.
“Membership registration and revalidation, which are compulsory prerequisites for the congresses and convention, have not even commenced,” Akeni lamented.
Allegations of Neglect and Funding Challenges
In his memo, Akeni also accused party officials of implementing what he called a “zero-budget policy,” claiming he had been left to finance his duties independently since relocating to Abuja.
“I have been carrying out all assignments from hotel accommodation without a penny from the Labour Party or its stakeholders, except a single ₦10,000 token for data,” he wrote.
“Which political party’s national image maker in Nigeria’s history has ever funded its publicity from private income—especially an opposition party seeking to challenge a powerful ruling administration?”
Akeni further alleged the presence of a “Trojan agent” within the committee, whom he accused of deliberately sabotaging the LP’s progress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Whoever insists that the National Publicity Secretary should personally fund the party’s media activities does not mean well for the Labour Party. Such an individual should be marked as a saboteur seeking to silence the party’s voice nationwide,” he stated.
Concerns Over INEC Recognition
Akeni also raised concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s continued refusal to recognise the Usman-led faction despite repeated assurances.
“Months after our inauguration, our council is still not recognised by INEC, whereas the new ADC coalition achieved the same effortlessly,” he said, urging the party’s elders to act swiftly before “external forces ruin the Labour Party’s standing again in 2027 through internal betrayal.”
Abure Faction Responds: ‘They Are Impostors’
Reacting to Akeni’s allegations, the faction led by Julius Abure dismissed the claims as baseless, describing the Usman-led interim leadership as “non-existent and illegal.”
In a phone interview with Emmynet24 news media, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led leadership, said:
“These people (Nenadi Usman-led committee) are impostors. They are not known to the Labour Party. Anything ‘interim’ does not exist in our constitution. They went about creating offices for themselves, even appointing a national chairman. You can verify from INEC—they are not on our register.”
Ifoh accused some sections of the media of “encouraging impostors,” insisting that the Abure-led leadership remains focused on consolidating party structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Stakeholders Silent
Efforts to obtain comments from Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti were unsuccessful as of press time.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, declined to comment, saying briefly, “We will react to it later.”
Background and Context
The Labour Party has been embroiled in persistent leadership tussles since the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, where internal divisions deepened over control of party structures and recognition by INEC.
Political analysts say the renewed friction between the Obi/Otti-backed faction and the Abure-led leadership could weaken the party’s organisational cohesion ahead of the next election cycle.
Observers note that resolving these disputes transparently and promptly will be critical if the LP hopes to maintain its credibility as Nigeria’s third-force opposition party.
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