Key Points

• Nenadi Usman pushes Labour Party reforms before 2027 polls.

• She calls for grassroots expansion and stronger structures.

• Reforms aim to make Labour Party a true alternative.

As Nigeria gets closer to the 2027 general elections, Nenadi Usman, a former senator and finance minister, is drawing up an ambitious plan to bring the Labour Party back from the edge of internal conflict and into a serious race for national power.

Usman, who has become one of the party’s most important voices in the last few months, told supporters at a meeting in Abuja that the Labour Party’s reputation depended on reforms that last longer than elections.

She called her strategy a “rebuilding process” that would enhance internal democracy, make the party more appealing to regular people, and win back the public’s trust.

Changes made by the Labour Party to improve democracy inside the party

According to a report by Vanguard news, the former senator said that the Labour Party can’t hope to compete with Nigeria’s two main parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), without having strong institutions and discipline.

She suggested initiatives like registering members online, having open primaries, and having a way to settle conflicts that works to cut down on factional issues.

Usman said that Nigerians, especially young people, want a political party that puts accountability and inclusion first.

She remarked, “The Labour Party needs to show that it can do politics in a different way.” “That starts with a party system that keeps its promises and listens to its members.”

Changes to the Labour Party to get more support from the ground up

Usman wants the party to reconnect with labor unions, professional groupings, and community-based organizations, which are the natural entities that gave the Labour Party its name and identity.

Analysts say that the party’s impressive performance in the 2023 elections under Peter Obi showed that people wanted more options, but the party’s inability to build on that momentum showed that it wasn’t very well organized.

Usman said, “Without grassroots anchors, the Labour Party could become another platform driven by elites.” Her plans for reform include getting more involved in rural areas, giving women more authority, and training programs for young politicians.

Changes to get the party ready for the 2027 elections

Usman said that improvements need to happen soon because the next presidential election is less than two years away. She said that the Labour Party’s significance in 2027 will depend on how well they prepare ahead of time instead of creating coalitions at the last minute.

Some long-time party members are cautiously hopeful. Usman hasn’t said she wants to run for politics, but her plan starts a strategic debate about what the Labour Party can realistically do in the next cycle.

One political expert in Abuja remarked, “The Nigerian electorate is restless.” “If the Labour Party makes the right changes, it could break up the traditional APC-PDP duopoly.” If not, it will stay on the outside.

Usman made it clear that there was no other option: “We either rebuild with reforms or we fade away,” she stated, leaving no doubt in her followers’ minds about how urgent her message was.