Labour Party kicks off ward congresses

By John Alechenu

Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has kicked off the party’s nationwide ward congress with a call for increased female participation in leadership.

Participating in the exercise in her Jere South Ward, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Usman commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its professionalism.

This was contained in a statement signed by her Senior Special Adviser (Media), Ken Asogwa, which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

She was quoted as saying, “This marks the commencement of our congresses at the ward level. What you have seen here are Jere North and Jere South conducting their congresses together, as is customary. New executives have been duly elected.

“Reports from across the federation indicate that the exercise was largely peaceful and well-organised, with INEC playing a commendable role through timely monitoring.”

The congress, held jointly with Jere North Ward, elected new executives to manage party affairs at the grassroots level. According to Usman, the next phases will include local government and state congresses, culminating in a national convention in Umuahia, Abia State.

“We are committed to gender balance and increased female participation in leadership, particularly in party administration,” she emphasised.

She urged party members to sustain the peaceful conduct observed during the ward congresses throughout the remaining stages of the process, including the national convention.

Ward congresses were held nationwide across 8,809 wards, with elected executives set to participate in local government congresses on April 24, state congresses on April 25, and the national convention on April 28, 2026.