The Abure-led Labour Party (LP) has accused Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti of attempting to seize control of the party leadership through underhanded tactics. This accusation was made by Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the National Secretary of the party, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
Peter Obi, who was the LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Alex Otti, who won the Abia governorship election using the party’s platform, have been accused of trying to undermine the current leadership.
The accusation comes amid ongoing internal strife within the LP, including a recent stakeholders meeting in Umuahia that endorsed Sen. Nenadi Usman as the interim leader after a lengthy legal dispute between the Abure camp and the Lamidi Apapa-led faction.
Ifoh criticized Obi and Otti, stating that they were once desperate for party tickets and now appear to be undermining the party’s current leadership. He emphasized the LP’s dedication during the election campaign and the challenges faced by its leaders.
According to Ifoh, Obi and Otti are allegedly attempting to use the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to illegally seize party leadership. He asserted that the current National Working Committee (NWC) is legitimate, having been elected at a valid convention, and any changes to the executive would require another convention in 2028.
Ifoh also highlighted that a Federal High Court ruling confirmed the validity of the LP’s March 26, 2024 national convention in Nnewi.