The Imo State faction of the Labour Party (LP), led by Callistus Ihejiagwa, has cautioned its members against participating in any party activities not authorized by the legitimate leadership.

The warning comes amid reports of plans to hold Ward, LGA, and State Congresses, allegedly scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026, by the faction headed by Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha—moves seen as challenging the existing leadership.

Through its Chairman, Ihejiagwa emphasized that the warning aims to uphold legality and preserve democratic structures within the party. He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a letter dated February 16, 2026, reportedly declined to approve the dissolution of the State, LGA, and Ward Executive Committees across the federation.

Since INEC did not disqualify congresses conducted by the Ihejiagwa-led faction, any subsequent activities, including meetings and congress scheduling by Usman’s group, are legally invalid, the faction argued.

Responding to claims that INEC officials attended the purported National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of March 17, 2026, Ihejiagwa said the presence of INEC representatives does not confer legality. “INEC’s role is that of a regulator and observer, not a validator of illegality. The legitimacy of any NEC meeting depends on strict compliance with the party Constitution and the Electoral Act, including proper notice, lawful authority, and quorum,” he said.

Ihejiagwa maintained that where these conditions are absent, the meeting and its decisions are legally null and void, regardless of INEC’s presence.

Regarding the proposed congresses, he highlighted multiple defects. The scheduling of the congresses for March 26, 2026, falls short of the mandatory 21-day statutory notice required under the Electoral Act. Additionally, he noted that there is no evidence that Usman’s group submitted the party’s membership register to INEC, a prerequisite for conducting lawful congresses. “On what membership register are these purported congresses to be conducted? Failure to comply renders the entire exercise null and void,” he said.

Ihejiagwa further asserted that the State, LGA, and Ward Executive Committees elected during INEC-monitored congresses held on December 2, 4, and 6, 2025, remain valid. “As long as the tenure of these executives has not expired or been lawfully terminated through due process, there exists no vacancy to justify new congresses. Any attempt to replace subsisting structures is unlawful and cannot stand in law,” he added.