The turmoil within the Labour Party intensified on Tuesday as the party’s leadership issued a stern warning to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, urging him to focus on governance and refrain from interfering in party affairs.
At a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, expressed his frustration over Otti’s intentions to convene a National Executive Meeting on August 31. Otti’s proposed meeting aimed to disband the National Executive Council and other key party structures under the rationale that their tenures had expired.
Abure firmly rejected Otti’s claims, stating that it is not within the governor’s purview to initiate such a meeting. He announced that the National Working Committee (NWC) had formed a disciplinary committee tasked with sanctioning members who undermine the party’s stability.
“The NWC also emphasizes that even if we accept, for argument’s sake, that the current NWC’s tenure has expired, it is still the responsibility of the national chairman and the national secretary to coordinate any NEC meetings,” Abure stated.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must officially communicate any concerns regarding the conduct of the convention and the status of tenures. We urge our colleagues to prioritize governance and allow us to manage party matters,” he continued.
Furthermore, Abure cautioned that the national leadership is prepared to discipline any member who fails to comply with party regulations. He articulated that the Labour Party operates differently than others, being a collective representation rather than a vehicle for individual control.
Abure highlighted Otti’s stance as allegedly based on claims from INEC regarding the expiration of the current executives’ tenures. However, he maintained that, until a recent exclusion from an INEC meeting, there had been no conflict with the commission.
He asserted, “Any suggestion that the tenures of our current leaders have lapsed is not only misleading but also an attempt to destabilize the party. A Federal High Court has already validated the National Convention held on March 27, and legal challenges surrounding the convention remain.”
Abure’s assertions indicate an escalating rift within the Labour Party, potentially paving the way for the All Progressives Congress to gain ground in Abia State, where it seeks to challenge the party’s current governance. Recently, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, remarked that Otti would be the last Labour Party governor in Abia State, vowing that the APC would seize control by 2027.
