The internal discord within the Labour Party (LP) intensified on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, as the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, issued a stern warning to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, urging him to refrain from meddling in party affairs and to focus on governing his state.
During a press conference in Abuja, Abure expressed mounting frustration with Otti’s recent actions, particularly his plan to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on August 31 to dissolve the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council, and Ward Executive Council, citing that these councils had expired and new leadership was needed.
Abure strongly rejected this notion, asserting that Otti had overstepped his boundaries. He emphasized that even if the tenure of the current National Working Committee (NWC) had expired, it was not within Otti’s jurisdiction as the governor of Abia State to convene an NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee. According to Abure, this responsibility lies solely with the national chairman and the national secretary of the party.
He further clarified that any decision regarding the party’s leadership tenure falls under the jurisdiction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not any individual governor. Abure urged Otti to “concentrate on governance and allow us to handle party affairs,” signaling that the party’s leadership would not tolerate interference from any of its members, regardless of their position.
To reinforce his stance, Abure announced the establishment of a disciplinary committee by the National Working Committee to sanction members who act against the party’s interests. He made it clear that the Labour Party is not controlled by any single individual and prides itself on being a platform for the general populace, rather than a vehicle for the ambitions of one person.
Abure suggested that Otti’s actions were based on a misinterpretation of INEC’s position on the party’s leadership, emphasizing that there had been no formal objection from INEC regarding the tenure of the current leadership. He also highlighted that a Federal High Court in Abuja had validated the party’s National Convention held on March 27, 2023, and that any speculation about expired tenures was “mischievous” and aimed at destabilizing the party.
In conclusion, Abure urged all party members to respect the ongoing legal processes and maintain the status quo until the courts decide otherwise.