Labour Party chieftain and senatorial candidate from Kaduna State in 2023 election, Engr Michael Ayuba Auta, has described the emergence of Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s national caretaker chairman as unconstitutional, null and void.
He also said the appointment of Nenadi was done without due consultation with critical party stakeholders, particularly in Kaduna State, where he claimed that the party recorded significant success in the last general elections.
It would be recalled that the LP stakeholders’ meeting, conveyed by the Abia State governor, Alex Otti and chaired by its presidential candidate in the 2023, Mr. Peter Obi adopted Nenadi, a former senator and minister of finance, to chair the 29-member national caretaker committee that will oversee the conduct of state congresses and the all-inclusive national convention, an outcome that has sparked controversies from different states across the country.
In a press statement, Auta, lamented that those who scuttled the party’s chances of winning major seats both at state and national level are now being rewarded and seen as saints while party patriots who championed the cause of the party are neglected.
He added that the appointment of Nenadi was also a violation of the party’s constitution, adding that due process was not followed as the party’s constitution is clear on how appointments should be made.
The chieftain called on the national leadership of the party to immediately reverse the appointment and convene a stakeholders’ meeting where aggrieved members will be brought on board to discuss the way forward for the party.
According to Dr Auta in the statement, “as far as we are concerned, Nenadi is our sister, but we do not recognize her leadership because the meeting that appointed her did not follow due process. The party’s constitution is clear on how appointments should be made, and the recent appointment of Nenadi as acting chairman did not meet those requirements.
“Nenadi’s appointment is a clear violation of our party’s constitution. It’s a backdoor appointment that was made without consulting the relevant stakeholders who used their hard earned resources to sponsor the party and ensure that it becomes a force to be reckoned with in Kaduna state within a short period of time.
“Nenadi has never been committed to the growth of our party. She has always pursued her personal interests, even if it means working against the party. These are the people that scuttle the chances of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Obi and that of myself. Even though I won, the same people worked against me to steal my victory for the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) how on earth could this same dark horses be the same people entrusted with the affairs of Labour Party?
“We cannot trust Nenadi, not to talk of recognizing her leadership because it’s not legitimate. It is not only dangerous to have her as our leader but also fatal to the party which seemed to be getting skewed to be either an Igbo or the Christian party as it was wrongly suspected.
“With this short introduction, I hereby challenge the LP VP candidate 2023 elections Sen. Baba Datti Ahmed, Kaduna Governorship candidate, Jonathan Asake, Sen. Nenadi Usman, LP National Secretary Umar Farouk Mairakumi and Nitwick Alh. Audi Muhammad to a debate in any live reputable television stations to be sponsored by myself financially.
“There are many things that the public need to know about the aftermath of the 2023 general elections and I am ready to reveal them. The selection of Sen. Nenadi Usman is not acceptable and therefore it is null and void.” Auta reiterated.