“Labour Party Shakes Up Leadership: Suspension of Benue Chairman Agida and 25 Others Sends Shockwaves”

The Labour Party (LP), on Thursday, declared the suspension of Mr. Emmanuel Agida, the former chairperson of the party in Benue State.

The LP also suspended Hon. Hilda Doukubo and Eneyi G. Zidougha, previous chairpersons of Rivers and Bayelsa states, respectively; along with ex-national deputy chairperson, Dr. Ayo Olurunfemi; former chair of Bauchi State, Muhammed Sabitu Aliyu; and several former national and state officials loyal to the past national chairman, Julius Abure.

The Caretaker Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, which holds recognition from the Supreme Court, revealed the identities of the 26 suspended party members on its X handle on Thursday.

As stated by the party, the National Executive Council has sanctioned the suspension of Mr. Agida and 25 others.

Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in a significant ruling last year, removed Julius Abure from the position of national chairman of the party.

In a unanimous verdict given on April 4, 2025, the five-member panel of the apex court effectively dismissed Abure as the national chairman by overturning a prior Court of Appeal decision that had affirmed his leadership.

Additionally, in January 2026, in another ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the court referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling of April 4, 2025, to declare former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, as the legitimate national chairman of the party.

The court instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cease recognizing Abure and, instead, acknowledge the Senator Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the rightful authority representing the party, until the national convention at which new national officials will be elected.

Other individuals suspended by the authority of the Labour Party include: Hon. Lincolin Charles, Ogar Osim, Vincent Okwuokei, Casmir Agbo Uchenna, Simon Zubairu Bamga, Abduljamid Sa’ad Suleiman, Auwala Ahmed, and Ularama Jubrila.

Also suspended are Grace Zafara Posat, Suleiman Abdurahman Abdul, Ajibade Adekunle Samson, Alexander Emmanuel Ombugu, Elizabeth Ativie, Godwin Jioke, Airen Igbinedion, Osas Frank, Kennedy Ahanotu, Abayomi Arabambi, Umar Faruk Ibrahim, Auwal Tafoki, and Obiora Ifoh.

The party has since scheduled its national convention for Saturday, April 28, 2026, to elect new national officials.