Labour Party rejects Nenadi Usman’s alleged attempt to broker alliance with El-Rufai

The Labour Party (LP) has strongly rejected what it described as an audacious attempt by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, to engage in political transactions on behalf of the party.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that LP will not allow Usman to negotiate any form of coalition or alliance with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, or any other political figure.

Ifoh accused Usman, a former member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of attempting to exploit LP for personal political gains, despite not being a registered member. According to him, Usman joined LP in 2022 to support the party’s presidential candidate but never formalized her membership at the ward, local government, or state levels.

“It is only in Nigeria that desperate politicians can wake up one morning and begin to claim a position not backed by any law. Usman forced her way into an illegal transitional chairmanship role, and now the unseen hands funding her covert agenda are beginning to emerge,” Ifoh stated.

He described Tuesday’s events as a “shameful display,” noting that Usman had been spotted at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) event where El-Rufai was received into the opposition fold. The LP spokesman questioned her presence at the event, describing it as “anti-party activity” that exposes her true motives.

“Imagine a supposed party leader saying ‘they’ received El-Rufai into the opposition. Was it a Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) event? If she was truly invited, why weren’t chairmen of other opposition parties invited? This is a shallow defense, and it is clear that she is playing a double game,” Ifoh added.

He also accused Usman of attempting to destabilize the Labour Party through legal battles, recalling how she once dragged the party to court in an attempt to dissolve its entire leadership from ward to national level. He noted that she lost the case at both the lower and appeal courts, adding that her so-called transitional leadership mandate had long expired.

The party reaffirmed that it is not in any discussions regarding coalitions, alliances, or mergers at this time, warning that any unauthorized attempt to negotiate on behalf of LP would be resisted.

“Nenadi Usman has no executive position in LP and cannot auction our party to her former mentor. If she wants to join another political party, she is free to do so. But transacting with Labour Party is criminal, and it must be resisted,” Ifoh concluded.