By John Danjuma
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party has revoked the 2027 presidential and governorship election tickets previously issued to Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
This decision came months after the controversial national convention in March 2023, at which the duo was named the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 elections.
The March convention in Nnewi saw Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Otti endorsed for a second gubernatorial term.
However, their absence at the convention and the subsequent backlash signalled internal tensions within the Labour Party.
Many viewed the decision to endorse them so far in advance as an exclusionary move, ignoring other members who may wish to contest in 2027.
Obi and Otti boycotted the Nnewi convention, reportedly advising the party’s Chairman, Julius Abure, to ensure more comprehensive consultation before making such decisions.
The party has also been under fire from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has refused to recognize the current leadership, citing the expiration of the National Working Committee’s (NWC) tenure in June 2024.
The leadership vacuum led Governor Otti to convene a stakeholders’ meeting, which resulted in the appointment of Nenadi Usman and 28 others as the party’s caretaker committee.
However, in a NEC meeting held yesterday, the party’s leadership, under Abure, declared the Abia summit illegal.
Citing Article 14 (4) (B) of the party’s constitution, which states that only the National Secretary can call such meetings with the Chairman’s approval, the NEC disassociated itself from the decisions made at the Abia gathering.
A communiqué from the NEC meeting, read by Deputy National Secretary Innocent Okeke, reiterated that there is no leadership vacuum in the party and urged INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to stop “aiding and abetting” Otti.
The NEC further set up a disciplinary committee to handle party issues and assess reconciliation efforts within the Labour Party.
Speaking at the NEC meeting, Julius Abure condemned Obi and Otti’s actions, accusing them of undermining party unity by organizing an “illegal” gathering in Abia.
He described the move as a betrayal of Labour Party values rooted in integrity, unity, and justice. According to Abure, the party’s mission is to unite Nigerians, not divide them.
Abure also responded to recent claims made by Governor Otti, who accused him of mismanaging the uploading of polling unit agents during the Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections.
He clarified that Olumide Akpata had been responsible for uploading the agents in Edo, and the Ondo process was handled similarly.
He rejected Otti’s assertion that the party violated a Supreme Court judgment and challenged him to present evidence to support his claims.
Addressing accusations of mismanaging campaign funds during the 2023 presidential election, Abure said that the party was not involved in handling funds.
He explained that separate accounts managed campaign donations under the control of individuals, including Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo.
Abure emphasised that Obi financed the campaign in the northern states, and Doyin Okupe and Akin Oshuntokun managed the funds in the southern states.
He reaffirmed his commitment to leading the Labour Party through its current challenges, declaring that no intimidation or division would derail its vision.
He called on party members to stand in solidarity and work together to ensure the Labour Party remains a potent political force in Nigeria’s future elections.
“We are a party built on unity and the hopes of ordinary Nigerians. We will not let divisive actions weaken our resolve. The beautiful ones are not yet born, but through the Labour Party, their time will come,” Abure stated.
