By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Senator Esther Nenadi Usman has been elected as the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party LP.
Usman, who was the head of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, emerged through a consensus arrangement just like all other members of the new National Executive Committee, NEC, at the party’s National Convention held at the International Conference Centre Umuahia, the Abia state capital on Tuesday April 27, 2026.
A former member of the the National Assembly who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South between 1999 and 2003, Hon Acho Obioma, emerged as the new National Secretary of the party.
Hon Obioma who, until his election was the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Political Affairs, replaces Senator Darlington Nwokocha who acted in the same capacity in the interim arrangement.
The members of the new NEC who equally emerged through a consensus are expected to steer the affairs of LP for the next four years.
The Umuahia National Convention which drew participants from across the 36 States of the country and Abuja the Federal Capital Territory was the climax of a week long process that began with ward , local council and state congresses across the country.
In her acceptance speech, Senator Usman promised to justify the confidence and trust reposed in her by party members with an assurance to work towards strengthening and repositioning the party .
Specificall, the newly elected National Chairman expressed her unflinching commitment towards ensuring inclusiveness, organizational discipline and grassroots mobilisation.
This was as he described the task ahead as one that demand unity of purpose and unwavering dedication by party members.
She called on party leaders, members and supporters alike to prioritize unity ,and and cohesion as necessary conditions for the rebuilding process.
In his remarks, the national leader of LP, and the only Governor elected on its platform, Dr Alex Otti urged the new NEC members to work towards reconciliation of aggrieved persons with a view to expanding the frontiers of the party..
He stressed the importance of unity and trust among members to the electoral fortunes of the party.
“Politics is ultimately about numbers. Labour Party must broaden its appeal, and avoid alienating key stakeholders if it hopes to remain competitive on the national stage”, Otti stated.
The Source reports that the party had, on September 4 2025, at an expanded National Executive Council meeting which featured many prominent LP leaders including the 2023 Presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate Yusuf Datti-Ahmed , National Assembly members, etc, appointed a national caretaker committee with Senator Usman as National Chairman.
The Umuahia expanded NEC, was a direct response to the controversial Nnewi Convention organized by eirstwhile National Chairman Barr. Julius Abure.
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