The Labour Party, under the leadership of Julius Abure, has officially withdrawn the automatic 2027 election tickets previously reserved for former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti. The party’s National Executive Council (NEC), during a meeting in Abuja, announced that all party positions, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, are now open to all qualified candidates.
This decision follows a controversial meeting in Abia State, where Obi, Otti, and other Labour Party leaders appointed a 29-member caretaker committee to manage party affairs. The Abure-led faction of the party has declared that meeting and its outcomes null and void, citing it as unauthorized and unconstitutional.
Abure’s NEC emphasized that the party’s leadership structure remains intact, following a national convention held in March 2024, which adhered to the Labour Party’s constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act. The NEC criticized Governor Otti for allegedly quoting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to justify his actions, urging INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu to stop aiding what it called divisive efforts within the party.
The NEC also reiterated its confidence in Abure’s leadership and called on members to respect party directives. Plans were announced to fill vacant positions within the National Working Committee (NWC) and to conduct congresses at the state, local government, and ward levels.
Abure strongly condemned the faction led by Obi and Otti, accusing them of trying to undermine the party’s unity. He reaffirmed that no governor or individual has the authority to dissolve the NWC or unilaterally reorganize party leadership, warning that recent actions were damaging to the party’s integrity.
Be First to Comment