The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) intensified on Tuesday as the party’s national leadership issued a stern warning to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, urging him to concentrate on governance and refrain from meddling in the party’s administration. The warning was delivered by the National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, during a press conference in Abuja.
Abure expressed concern over the ongoing challenges facing the party, highlighting that it was already dealing with external pressures and criticism. He emphasized that it was disheartening to see party members and leaders contributing to the turmoil, rather than fostering unity.
The conflict reached a boiling point after a recent meeting between Otti and Abure, where the governor revealed his intention to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on August 31. During this meeting, Otti proposed the dissolution of the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council, and Ward Executive Council, citing the expiration of their tenures. However, Abure firmly rejected this proposal, asserting that such actions were beyond the governor’s authority.
In response, Abure announced that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had established a disciplinary committee to address any infractions by party members, including prominent figures who attempt to undermine the party’s stability.
“The National Working Committee also notes that assuming without conceding that the tenure of the current NWC has even expired, we must state clearly that it is not the responsibility of Dr. Alex Otti, as the governor of Abia State, to convene an NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee,” Abure stated. “It is still the responsibility of the national chairman and the national secretary of the party to convene such a meeting. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of INEC to officially communicate to the party in writing if it has objections to the conduct of the convention and indeed to inform the leadership that its tenure has expired. We appeal to our colleagues to concentrate on governance and allow us to handle party affairs.”
Abure made it clear that the national leadership would not hesitate to discipline any member who fails to comply with the party’s constitution and the lawful directives of its leadership. He also reiterated that there is no leadership vacuum within the Labour Party.
“The Labour Party is different from other political parties in that it is not controlled by one man, woman, or leader; neither is it a party that can be dominated by one person,” he continued. “It is a party for the generality of the people. The party’s outlook made it possible for people like Dr. Alex Otti to use the platform and win in 2023 after attempting and failing in APC, PDP, and even APGA.”
Abure further addressed Otti’s claims, which were allegedly based on the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the tenures of the current NWC and other grassroots leaders had expired. The LP chairman clarified that until the recent omission of the party from INEC’s discussions with political parties, there had been no significant issues with the commission.
“Therefore, for any person(s), group, or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to destabilize the party,” Abure asserted. “Apart from the fact that a Federal High Court in Abuja has already validated the National Convention held on March 27, other persons have challenged the convention of the party. It is therefore established in our laws that once cases are pending in our courts, parties are to maintain the status quo to prevent further harm to the party. INEC is expected not to descend into the arena of conflict but to continue with its neutrality and work cordially with the recognized leadership of the party until the courts state otherwise.”
The escalating tensions within the Labour Party raise concerns about the party’s stability as it navigates its internal disputes while preparing for future political engagements.
