JUST IN: Obi, Otti Lack Constitutional Authority to Remove Me; I Remain LP Chairman – Abure

Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, has firmly rejected the outcome of a recent stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, declaring it illegal and unconstitutional. The meeting, convened on September 4, 2024, by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, resulted in the appointment of former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, as the party’s caretaker chairman.

In an official statement released by the Labour Party, Abure, along with the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, asserted that neither Governor Otti nor the participants of the Umuahia meeting possess the constitutional authority to convene such a gathering. Abure emphasized that the Labour Party’s constitution, as well as the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, do not recognize the so-called “expanded stakeholders’ meeting” as an official organ of the party.

Citing specific articles from the Labour Party’s constitution, Abure outlined the recognized levels of party organization and principal organs, which include the National Convention, National Executive Council, and National Working Committee, among others. The Umuahia meeting, he argued, is a “charade” and a “waste of time and resources of Abia people.”

Abure also dismissed the premise of the meeting as “faulty and mischievous,” criticizing the lack of official communication from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding any issues with the party’s National Convention. He challenged Governor Otti to produce any official correspondence from INEC that would justify the meeting’s legitimacy.

Furthermore, Abure questioned the legitimacy of the newly appointed caretaker committee, describing it as a “department in Abia State Government House” and asserting that Senator Nenadi Usman, the appointed chairman, is not even a registered member of the Labour Party. According to Abure, Usman only became involved with the party during the 2023 presidential campaign of Peter Obi.

The press release, signed by the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, underscores the party’s strong stance against the Umuahia meeting, signaling potential legal and political challenges ahead.

The Labour Party’s leadership has made it clear that there is no vacuum in the party’s leadership and that any actions taken outside the recognized framework of the party’s constitution will not be acknowledged.