The Labour Party crisis escalated on Tuesday as LP leadership issued a warning to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, urging him to concentrate on governance and stop interfering with party administration.
National Chairman Julius Abure delivered this message at a press conference in Abuja.
Abure criticized the additional challenges posed by internal conflicts, exacerbating the party’s existing struggles with external critics.
His frustration was sparked by Otti’s recent announcement to hold a National Executive Committee meeting on August 31, with plans to dissolve various party councils based on claims of expired tenures.
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Abure dismissed Otti’s authority to make such decisions and declared that the party’s National Working Committee has formed a disciplinary committee to address and penalize any members or leaders who undermine the party’s unity and structure.
He said, “The National Working Committee also notes that assuming without conceding that the tenure of the current NWC has even expired, we must state clearly that it is not the responsibility of Dr. Alex Otti, as the governor of Abia State, to convene an NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee. It is still the responsibility of the national chairman and the national secretary of the party to convene such a meeting.
“Secondly, it is the responsibility of INEC to officially communicate to the party in writing if it has objections to the conduct of the convention and indeed to inform the leadership that its tenure has expired. We want to appeal to our colleagues to concentrate on governance and allow us to handle party affairs.
“Consequently, the national leadership states clearly that it will not hesitate to discipline any member who is not ready to obey the party constitution and the lawful directives of the leadership. The national leadership hereby states unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our party.
“The Labour Party is different from other political parties in that it is not controlled by one man, woman, or leader; neither is it a party that can be dominated by one person. It is a party for the generality of the people. The party’s outlook made it possible for people like Dr. Alex Otti to use the platform and win in 2023 after attempting and failing in APC, PDP, and even APGA.”
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Abure further explained that Otti’s argument reportedly hinged on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) position that the tenures of the current NWC and grassroots leaders had expired.
However, Abure clarified that there had been no prior conflict with INEC until the recent exclusion of the Labour Party from discussions with political parties.
“Therefore, for any person(s), group, or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party. Apart from the fact that a Federal High Court in Abuja has already validated the National Convention held on March 27, other persons have challenged the convention of the party.
“It is therefore established in our laws that once cases are pending in our courts, parties are to maintain the status quo to prevent further harm to the party. INEC is expected not to descend into the arena of conflict but to continue with its neutrality and work cordially with the recognised leadership of the party until the courts state otherwise,” he said.
