Nasarawa Labour Party Crisis Deepens as Chairman Disowns Maku, Gaza as Party Candidates
Alex Emmanuel insists only INEC-monitored primaries are valid, dismisses rival faction's
claims ahead of 2027 elections
By Our Correspondent
The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) in Nasarawa State took a fresh twist as the state chairman, Hon. Alex Emmanuel, declared that former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and Gaza Gbefi are not recognised candidates of the party.
Emmanuel maintained that only aspirants who emerged from primaries conducted under his leadership and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can legitimately fly the party's flag in future elections.
Speaking in Lafia, the LP chairman said his executive committee, which assumed office in December 2025, remains the only authentic leadership structure of the party in Nasarawa State.
According to him, neither Maku nor Gbefi participated in the party's officially recognised primary elections and therefore cannot be presented as Labour Party candidates.
He disclosed that the party had successfully conducted its primaries for the forthcoming by-election and the 2027 governorship election, producing Benjamin Ashim as its by-election candidate and Hon. Ibrahim Afakar Azamu as the governorship flag bearer.
Emmanuel stressed that the primaries were conducted in compliance with party regulations and under the supervision of INEC officials, adding that all relevant documents had been submitted to the electoral commission.
The LP chairman also dismissed claims by a rival faction allegedly backed by a caretaker committee in Abuja, describing the group as unconstitutional and lacking any legitimate grassroots support within the state.
He challenged members of the faction to demonstrate their political strength by identifying local government structures under their control, insisting that party legitimacy is determined by organisational presence at the grassroots rather than pronouncements from outside the state.
On the lingering leadership dispute within the party, Emmanuel said the matter is already before the courts and expressed confidence that the judiciary would ultimately determine the authentic leadership of the Labour Party in Nasarawa State.
He urged party members and the public to disregard candidates being promoted by the rival faction, insisting that only those produced through the INEC-observed primaries conducted by his leadership would be recognised by the party.
The development highlights the deepening division within the Labour Party in Nasarawa State as competing factions continue to battle for control of the party structure ahead of crucial elections in the state.
