The Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday began a sweeping internal restructuring exercise, kicking off ward congresses across all 8,809 political wards nationwide in what party leaders describe as a strategic reset aimed at rebuilding its grassroots machinery ahead of its 2026 national convention.
The exercise marks the first phase of a tightly sequenced internal election roadmap that will culminate in a national convention scheduled for Umuahia, Abia State, on April 28, 2026.
At the centre of the process is the party’s Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, who personally monitored the ward congress in Jere South Ward, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where new ward executives were elected in a joint exercise with Jere North Ward.
Usman framed the exercise as more than administrative housekeeping, describing it as a deliberate effort to restore structure, discipline, and cohesion within the party.
“This marks the commencement of our congresses at ward level. New executives have been duly elected,” she said, according to her media aide, Ken Eluma Asogwa.
She stressed that the process is central to rebuilding the party from the ground up after months of internal realignment.
The ward congresses are expected to feed into local government elections on April 24, followed by state congresses on April 25, before the national convention three days later — a compressed timeline insiders say reflects urgency to stabilise the party’s internal structure.
Party officials describe the schedule as a “full-scale organisational reset” designed to strengthen coordination ahead of future electoral cycles.
Usman also used the occasion to push for greater inclusivity within the party, urging stronger female participation in leadership positions as part of its rebuilding strategy.
She further called for discipline among members as the congress process progresses, warning that the credibility of the national convention would depend on adherence to internal rules at all levels.
Reports from across the country indicated largely peaceful ward congresses, with delegates emerging through coordinated voting exercises.
Usman commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what she described as effective monitoring of the nationwide exercise.
“INEC has played a commendable role through prompt oversight and engagement,” she noted.
Political observers say the exercise represents a critical attempt by the Labour Party to rebuild its grassroots base and prevent internal fragmentation, particularly as parties reposition ahead of the 2026 political cycle.
With ward-level elections underway, attention now shifts to how effectively the party can sustain unity and organisational discipline through the remaining stages of its congress timetable.
LP Begins Nationwide Congresses, Usman Leads Restructuring Drive
