In furtherance of its commitment to institutional strengthening, democratic tenets, and ideological clarity, the National Leadership of the Labour Party has constituted a committee to review the Constitution of the party.
In a statement jointly signed by the Caretaker National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, and the Caretaker National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the Committee is said to serve “as an adhoc Technical Committee to undertake a comprehensive review and redrafting of the Labour Party Constitution 2019 (As Amended), subject to consideration and approval by the NEC and final ratification by the National Convention”.
The objectives of the Committee include:
a) Undertake a systematic, clause-by-clause examination of the Labour Party
Constitution 2019 (As Amended);
b) Identify Articles, clauses and paragraphs that needs to be amended;
c) Recommend necessary alterations/amendments to the Labour Party
Constitution;
d) Ensure that the Constitution fully embodies and operationalizes the Party’s social democratic ideology and programmatic commitments;
e) Align the Constitution with universally recognized democratic tenets, including internal democracy principles, transparency, accountability, participation, and institutional autonomy;
f) Strengthen compliance with principles of corporate governance, rule of law, separation of powers within Party organs, checks and balances, and due process;
g) Guarantee that the constitutional framework promotes equal opportunity, social justice, non-discrimination, gender equity, youth inclusion, diaspora participation, and representation of marginalized groups;
h) Eliminate ambiguities, conflicts, procedural lacunae, drafting mischiefs and structural inconsistencies capable of generating disputes or undermining
institutional stability of the party;
i) Produce a coherent, enforceable, and modern constitutional instrument capable of guiding the Party’s governance, growth, and electoral competitiveness.
The Committee which has Barrister Eric Ifere as Chairman and Pa Barrister Lawson Osagie as Secretary includes Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Barrister Diane Okoko, Comrade Chris Uyot, Comrade Echezona Asuzu, Comrade Martin Egbanubi, Comrade Barrister Tolu Akinmayowa, Barrister Ken Asogwa, Dr. Chibuzo Okereke, and Khadijah Ado Muhammed.
The Terms of Reference/Mandate of the Committee include:
a) Conduct a comprehensive constitutional audit of the current Labour Party Constitution deposited with INEC, identifying provisions requiring amendment, repeal, harmonization, clarification, or restructuring;
b) Review the distribution of powers, functions, and responsibilities among Party organs to ensure clarity, accountability, and institutional balance;
c) Examine nomination processes, leadership selection mechanisms, tenure provisions, disciplinary procedures, membership of the party organs, codes of conducts, discipline and dispute resolution frameworks to ensure fairness, transparency, and due process;
d) Propose safeguards that entrench internal party democracy and prevent
arbitrariness, concentration of authority, or abuse of power;
e) Align the Constitution with applicable national electoral laws, the Nigerian Constitution and other binding statutory requirements;
f) Incorporate governance standards reflective of corporate governance best practices, including fiduciary responsibility, financial oversight mechanisms, reporting obligations, and ethical compliance provisions;
g) Recommend enforceable provisions advancing equal opportunity, affirmative inclusion, and social justice within Party structures.
h) Consult widely with stakeholders including the diaspora community, and
consider written memoranda from stakeholders as may be necessary;
i) Prepare and submit for consideration and approval by the National Convention:
i. A Draft Revised Constitution of the Labour Party 2026;
ii. An Explanatory Memorandum detailing the rationale for each substantive amendment;
j) The Committee shall submit an Inception Report within seven (7) days of inauguration;
k) A Preliminary Draft Framework shall be submitted within fourteen (14) days;
l) The Final Draft Constitution and Comprehensive Report shall be submitted within twenty-one (21) days from the date of inauguration, unless extended by the National Leadership.
The Committee has since started working.