“Alex Otti Planning to Cripple Labour Party Before Defection” – Abure-Led NEC

The Julius Abure-led National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) has accused Abia State Governor Alex Otti of engaging in anti-party activities and plotting to destabilize the party ahead of a planned defection.

In a statement issued after a NEC meeting held on Monday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the LP alleged that Otti is working to collapse the party’s structure in preparation for a move to another political platform, where he intends to contest the 2027 governorship election.

The NEC also strongly condemned the creation of a Caretaker Committee, allegedly formed by Governor Otti and the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on September 4, 2024, in Umuahia, Abia State. The council described the meeting and its outcomes as unauthorized and unconstitutional.

The resolutions were contained in a statement signed by LP National Chairman Julius Abure and National Secretary Umar Farouk Ibrahim. The party threatened to take disciplinary action against Otti for what it described as consistent acts of disloyalty and violation of the party’s constitution.

The NEC meeting was attended by members of the National Working Committee, national officers, state chairmen and secretaries, party stakeholders, and other co-opted members of the NEC as provided by Article 13(A) of the party’s constitution.

The party also expressed satisfaction with a recent Supreme Court ruling, which it said upheld the supremacy of political parties over their internal affairs. According to the NEC, the court reaffirmed that leadership disputes within parties are not for the judiciary to decide, and it did not sack the current National Working Committee led by Abure.

Reaffirming the legitimacy of the Nnewi National Convention held on March 27, 2024, which produced the current NWC, the NEC said it maintains full confidence in the committee’s leadership and ability to guide the party to future electoral victories.

The NEC reiterated that only the National Secretary, with approval from the National Chairman, is authorized to convene party meetings, as stipulated in Article 14(4)(B) of the party constitution. It warned all members to strictly adhere to the party’s rules.

Specifically citing Governor Otti’s alleged convening of unauthorized stakeholder meetings and organizing local government elections under another political party, the NEC accused him of attempting to create a parallel leadership structure within the LP.

“The Labour Party is aware of the Governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another platform for the 2027 election. His actions are unbecoming of a highly placed public official and will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said. “NEC will not hesitate to apply disciplinary measures against him in accordance with Article 19 of the Party Constitution.”

The council concluded by warning that any member found in violations of the party’s constitution—regardless of status or position—will face appropriate disciplinary action.