Indefinite Suspension: Gov Otti Replies Abure

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has dismissed his reported suspension from the Labour Party (LP) by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), describing the move as laughable and illegitimate. The suspension, which also affected Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, House of Representatives members Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi, was announced by the National Secretary of the Abure-led faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim.

In a statement released by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Otti referred to the announcement as a baseless act by individuals with no legal standing in the party. Ekeoma emphasized that Julius Abure, whom he labeled as the party’s former national chairman, lacked the authority to issue suspensions, citing a Supreme Court ruling which, according to him, removed Abure from his leadership position.

“The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension… by the former National Chairman, Julius Abure,” the statement read. It went on to describe the suspension as “a joke taken too far” and accused Abure and his associates of attempting to use Otti’s name for personal gain.

Ekeoma asserted that the Supreme Court’s judgment was clear in upholding the party’s constitution, resulting in the establishment of a National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman. He further accused Abure of orchestrating the suspension in a bid to deflect attention from allegations of gross misconduct, including financial misappropriation, which he is reportedly being investigated for by the Caretaker Committee.

Calling on Nigerians to ignore Abure’s claims, Otti’s team described him and his allies as “a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.” The statement concluded with a call to the Inspector General of Police to arrest Abure for impersonation and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Supreme Court ruling to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law.