By Chukwudi Obasi, with agency report
The crisis rocking the Labour Party sank deeper yesterday as the embattled factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, announced the suspension of several high-profile party figures.
Among those affected are Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senators Darlington Nwokocha and Ireti Kingibe, Reps Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, Seyi Sowumi, as well as their state executives.
This was announced yesterday in a statement by the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the National Executive Council said the decision followed the recommendations of a five-man Disciplinary Committee set up on May 2, 2025, to probe allegations of anti-party conduct.
The statement read, “Recall that last Friday, May 2, 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party set up a five-person Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary, and three others to investigate Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and any other party members over allegations of anti-party activities.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded their assignment and has submitted its report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today, May 7, 2025. After exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution, the recommendation has been ratified as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
Consequently, the following party members have been suspended from the party and all its activities indefinitely and immediately. 1. Dr. Alex Otti; 2. Senator Ireti Kingibe; 3. Senator Darlington Nwokocha; 4. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; 5. Hon. Amobi Ogah; 6. Hon.. Seyi Sowunmi.”
Addressing the omission of Nenadi Usman from the suspension list, the party stated that she is not a registered member of the LP, but a supporter of its 2023 presidential candidate.
“We know that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. Therefore, we will not honour her with any sanction, as she is not a party member,” the statement said.
*Abia Gov, Rep member dismiss purported suspension
In a swift reaction, the Abia State Government rejected reports that Governor Otti has been suspended from the LP, describing the announcement by Abure as “a joke taken too far” and “an affront on democracy.”
In a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the state government rejected the legitimacy of Abure’s claim to the leadership of the LP, citing a Supreme Court ruling which it says invalidated his position as national chairman.
“The statement by Abure and his gang of comedians is not only a joke taken too far, but an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda”, Ekeoma said.
He insisted that the apex court’s ruling aligns with the Labour Party’s constitution and laid the foundation for establishing a new leadership under the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.
“For the records, the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“The judgement stripped Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman”, the statement read.
According to the statement, Abure’s pronouncement came just hours after a committee of the caretaker leadership summoned him to answer serious allegations, including financial misappropriation, impersonation, and anti-party activities.
“Just a few hours after being summoned… Abure decided to be smart by half by rushing to the press to announce the purported suspension of Governor Otti and other eminent party members”, Ekeoma said.
He called on law enforcement intervention and urged the Inspector General of Police to arrest Abure for impersonation and on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Supreme Court judgement.
“We enjoin Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve”, the statement added.
Also, Amobi Ogah, the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, has dismissed the LP’s recent suspension of him, saying it does not have weight.
He said it will not deter his allegiance to the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti.
Ogah, one of six prominent members suspended by the party over alleged anti-party activities, described the move as politically motivated and lacking substance.
He maintained that his focus remains on delivering on his legislative responsibilities and backing the progressive leadership in Abia.
“The so-called suspension is a joke taken too far. It is nothing more than a distraction orchestrated by those unsettled by the positive changes under Governor Otti’s leadership,” Ogah said.
He emphasised that his mandate came from the people and that no internal party politics could shake his commitment to their welfare and the development agenda of the current state administration.
“I remain solidly behind Governor Alex Otti. He is redefining governance in Abia State, bringing hope, transparency, and development. No amount of intimidation will derail this movement,” he declared.
Ogah also urged his supporters and constituents to stay focused, ensuring that he remains undistracted in his mission to represent and champion their interests effectively.
*Disciplinary panel set up to try embattled ‘national chairman’
Meanwhile, the Nanedi Usman-led NEC of the LP has set up a five-person disciplinary committee to investigate alleged gross misconduct against Abure.
The NEC also gave Abure 48 hours to explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him over the alleged misconduct.
Usman, chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, made this known at a news conference in Abuja.
She said that the action was in the exercise of the NEC’s constitutional mandate and strict accordance with the disciplinary provisions of the party’s 2019 Constitution, as amended.
“The NEC in session hereby announces the commencement of disciplinary actions against Mr Abure. These actions started with the constitution of a special investigative committee to review Mr Abure’s actions, which affected the image and integrity of the party.
“NEC gives Mr Abure a 48-hour notice to show why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him for his numerous acts of gross misconduct against the party. They are actions that threaten our party’s unity, integrity and public image,” she said.
Usman further stated that NEC decided to do so due to Abure’s continued impersonation and misrepresentation of the office of the National Chairman.
“We can no longer stand by while the values we hold dear – transparency, discipline and democratic accountability – are undermined from within.
“This press conference is convened to address the growing concern over the misconduct and internal rascality plaguing our party.
“At a time when Nigerians are yearning for credible leadership and see the Labour Party as a beacon of hope, it is regrettable that we must battle internal sabotage from those who should know better.
“Rather than unifying the party, he undermines it. Rather than attract credible Nigerians to come and join, he alienates them. Instead of advancing our collective vision, he pursues narrow personal ambitions,” Usman said.
The former Finance Minister said it was most painful that Abure targetted those who had brought credibility and national visibility to the party.
“Mr Peter Obi and Gov. Alex Oti represent the aspirations of a new Nigeria. Gov. Otti is one of the country’s most effective and respected governors today.
“These men have sacrificed, not for personal gain but to give the Labour Party and Nigeria a real shot at transformation. What they demand is simple: a party that is transparent, democratic and accountable.
“Instead of embracing this vision, Mr Abure chooses confrontation and chaos. We say today, this must stop,” she said.
Usman said that a formal notice of the action would be sent to Abure.
The committee is chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Mr Peter Ameh as the Secretary.
“Mr Abure is hereby warned to desist from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party or impersonating the office in any form.
“The apex court of the land has clearly and finally nullified his claim to leadership, and his tenure has long expired by the passage of time,” Usman said.
She further said that NEC had passed a vote of confidence in Otti and Obi, adding that Abure had no moral authority to set up a disciplinary panel against the governor.
Recall that the Abure-led NEC had recently set up a disciplinary committee to probe Otti’s anti-party activities.
Speaking further, Usman said that investigations had revealed that Abure illegally issued State Executive Committee letters every three months, in breach of LP’s constitutional provisions.
These, the former minister said, had been nullified.
She added that the party’s leadership would launch a nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise in the coming weeks.
Responding to questions on the likelihood of the party going into coalition with others, the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, said that the LP would only welcome any alliance that would benefit it.
Stakeholders and elected members of the party in the National Assembly attended the conference.
