Labour Party Leadership Crisis Deepens as Abure Rejects Caretaker Committee Backed by Obi, Otti

The internal crisis within the Labour Party intensified as National Chairman Julius Abure rejected the formation of a 29-member caretaker committee established by key stakeholders, including Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti. The committee, led by former Finance Minister Senator Nenadi Usman, was tasked with overseeing the party’s affairs for 90 days and organizing elections to fill leadership positions.

The stakeholders’ meeting, convened by Otti in Umuahia, aimed to address the ongoing leadership vacuum in the party. Supporters of the initiative, including Obi and his 2023 running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, endorsed the committee as a necessary step to stabilize the party and resolve long-standing leadership disputes.

However, Abure, who was notably absent from the meeting, denounced the caretaker committee as illegal and unconstitutional. Through a statement issued by the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure argued that the committee had no legal standing, emphasizing that the party’s leadership remains legitimate following a convention earlier in the year. He called the Umuahia meeting a “waste of time” and questioned Otti’s authority to convene it.

The committee, which includes representatives from various sectors of the party, was formed to address the leadership gap after the expiration of the National Working Committee’s (NWC) tenure in June 2024. The stakeholders expressed concern that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not recognized the party’s leadership, adding urgency to their efforts to restructure the party.

Despite Abure’s objections, Obi and Otti urged party members to support the caretaker committee, stating that the initiative was essential for the Labour Party’s future. They emphasized that the goal was not to exclude anyone but to rebuild the party and resolve internal conflicts.

As the Labour Party faces increasing divisions, the path forward remains uncertain, with both sides committed to their vision of the party’s leadership and future direction.