Labour Party fixes congress for February 2023, launches online membership registration App

By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Labour Party (LP) rose from its virtual National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Saturday to reveal that it has planned its congresses starting from February, 2025.
In a statement issued yesterday, the national Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the party, Obiora Ifoh said the congresses will commence with the Ward congresses which will hold between February and March in line with Article 13:11 of the 2024 constitution as amended.
The statement equally stated that the Local government congresses will commence between April and May; adding that the State congresses have been scheduled to take place between June and July adding that every interested member of the party who wants to aspire to any position will have the opportunity to contest.
“Ward Congresses will commence between February and March 2025. Every interested member of the party aspiring to hold offices at the ward level should by this information commence the necessary preparations. Article 13:11 of 2024 constitution as amended records 17 offices to be contested at each ward to include: Chairman, two (2) Vice Chairman (one male and one female), Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Woman Leader, Youth Leader and five ex-officio members.
“Local Government Congress will commence between April and May, 2025. Every interested member of the party aspiring to hold offices at the Local Government levels should by this notice commence the necessary preparations. Article 13:9 of the 2024 constitution as amended records 21 offices to be contested at each Local Government Area.
“State Congress will commence between June and July, 2025. Every interested member of the party aspiring to hold offices at the State levels should by this information commence the necessary preparations. Article 13:7 of 2024 constitution as amended records 29 offices to be contested at the state include: Chairman, Six (6) Deputy Chairman, Secretary, two (2) Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Organizing Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Woman Leader, three (3) Assistant Women Leaders, Youth Leader, (3) Assistant Youth Leaders and five ex-officio members”.
Similarly, in its desire to increase its membership size to about 20 million before 2027 general election, the party has also launched an online membership registration and revalidation application.
The statement further revealed that the proposed membership revalidation will begin next month; adding that it would dovetail into the scheduled congresses.
According to the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the party also approved the restructuring of the Directorate of Mobilization and Integration while it created the Directorate of International and Diaspora Affairs.
The communique read in parts: “NEC approves that conscious of the need to expand the membership of the party, all members are expected to revalidate their membership while new members are to register online via https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/up9GnIuu.
“The first phase of this exercise commences with immediate effect and will end on the 31st January, 2025. This online registration will be used to update the Ward register ahead of the congresses.
“NEC also directed that states that have complied with the basic requirements, particularly on the matter of registration, and are ready for their Congresses, mandatory notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be issued on the conduct of congresses in those states within the time frame as stipulated”.
NEC also directed that various committees which include Electoral Reform Committee, Political Education Committee and State Elders Council be inaugurated with immediate effect.