The Labour Party, under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, is pushing back against rumors that it is struggling to stay afloat, insisting that being “budget-conscious” is simply part of their identity.
The party’s leadership recently addressed comments made by its former Publicity Secretary, Tony Akene, regarding the state of their finances.
According to the Usman-led team, the party has always taken pride in operating within its modest means, rather than pretending to have an endless supply of funds.
Ken Eluma Asogwa, a Senior Special Adviser to Senator Usman, suggested that Akene’s exit was likely due to a misunderstanding of what it means to run a grassroots movement.
He noted that it is no secret the Labour Party doesn’t have the massive war chests of the Peoples Democratic Party or the All Progressives Congress—parties that currently hold the levers of power.
“If before his appointment he was thinking that he was coming to, maybe, dispense resources from a deep pocket, and he came in and he’s not able to see it, and he left. I don’t think the party is to blame for his departure,” Asogwa remarked.
Beyond the financial chatter, the party is also working to clear the air regarding its internal hierarchy.
Asogwa pointed out that their legal standing is firm, emphasizing that a court judgment has recognized Senator Nenadi Usman as the National Chairman—a status that has been officially acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).