A verification team from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday visited the National Secretariat of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party to assess its leadership structure, membership records, and documentation relating to its office premises.

The team, led by Mallam Mansur Hassan, said the visit was part of a verification exercise aimed at confirming the party’s physical structure, executive composition, and compliance with INEC records.

Speaking during the exercise, Hassan clarified that the team was not on an observational mission but a monitoring assignment.

“We are INEC monitors, we are not observers. We are here to monitor and correct things, not observe,” he said.

He stated that the team would verify the presence of party executives in line with INEC records, the composition of the National Working Committee as provided in the Labour Party Constitution, and documentation relating to the party’s secretariat.

“We want to have a look at evidence of the tenancy of this place (Secretariat), the tenancy agreement, receipt of ownership or possession. We will sight the document and have a copy of it,” he added.

Hassan further disclosed that the delegation would also request a soft copy of the party’s membership register and verify staff presence at the secretariat.

“We will also like to verify the secretariat staff. Are they present or is the party working with just one person? We are going to divide ourselves into groups to verify what is happening within the party,” he said.

In her remarks, the interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, welcomed the INEC team and assured them of the party’s full cooperation.

She said the party’s leadership remained stable despite recent challenges, adding that members had remained committed during what she described as a turbulent period now behind them.

“I know that most people found it difficult to come here today because our congresses are starting tomorrow and all politics is local,” she said.

Usman emphasized the need for unity and inclusiveness within the party, stressing that rebuilding the party required collective effort.

“The party is not about me, it is not about anybody. We need to build a strong foundation for our party; whatever it takes to do that, we will do it,” she said.

She called for reconciliation among aggrieved members, urging them to return and work together for the growth of the party.

“We will extend the olive branch. We will continue to invite everybody, even those who were aggrieved, to come back so we can work together. We want the party to be the biggest party in this country,” she added.

On recent legal developments, Usman said: “About the judgement we got in court yesterday, it is no victor, no vanquished.”

She later presented files containing requested documents to the INEC delegation and conducted them round offices and conference rooms at the secretariat.