The Labour Party (LP) crisis has taken a new turn as the Julius Abure National Working Committee (NWC) threatened the suspension of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi. The LP stated that unless Otti and Obi stopped what they referred to as anti-party activities, they would be suspended very soon.
The party leadership in a statement released following the Abuja meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday warned both high-profile members against actions that would undermine the party’s integrity and unity. The meeting, which was presided over by General Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, had national chairman of the party Julius Abure, national officers, state chairmen, secretaries, and other stakeholders.
According to leadership.ng, the LP NEC accused Governor Otti of conducting unauthorized stakeholder meetings, infringing on NEC’s constitutional authority, and holding local government elections under the umbrella of another political party. The committee also condemned what it described as an “illegally constituted caretaker committee” allegedly backed by Governor Otti and Peter Obi at a stakeholder meeting on September 4, 2024 in Umuahia, Abia State.
The party leadership expressed grave concern over Governor Otti’s plans to host a separate NEC and stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for April 9, 2025, labelling the move as a calculated attempt to factionalise the party.
“NEC in session stated that it would not hesitate to discipline him in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution,” the communique read.
“The NWC is instructed to take such disciplinary measures as may befit if he goes ahead with the illegality,” declared the Party.
Peter Obi, otherwise known as Labour Party’s face before and after the 2023 presidential election, was also issued a warning to stop engaging in conducts that put party cohesiveness at risk. NEC warned that recurrence of unconstitutional behaviors would attract “steeper punishments,” regardless of their place in the party.
Similarly, the party also declared that Hon. Afam Victor Ogene would be removed as the Labour Party caucus leader in the House of Representatives. The caucus leadership lost steam and could not protect the ideology and programme of the party in the lower chamber, the NEC declared. Hon. Ben Etanabene has been chosen as a replacement for Ogene.
“Party contributions and financial records need to be transferred to the new caucus leader,” the statement continued, and that the National Working Committee would bring the change to the attention of the concerned authorities.
Despite the crisis, LP NEC reaffirmed its commitment to providing Nigerians with good leadership under the leadership of the National Chairman, Hon Julius Abure. It reaffirmed its commitment to governance, security, economic development, infrastructure, and reform of the judicial system.
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