By Abiola Olawale
The internal leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has reached a boiling point, with the faction led by its now axed National Chairman Julius Abure announcing the indefinite suspension of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and four other prominent members for alleged anti-party activities.
The move was confirmed in a press statement by the LP National Executive Committee (NEC). The National Secretary of the Julius Abure-led faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, announced their suspension in a statement on Wednesday.
The Abure-led faction accused Otti, Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Hon. Joshua Ogah, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, and others of engaging in actions detrimental to the party’s progress.
According to him, a disciplinary committee, chaired by Dr Ayo Olorunfemi with Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim as secretary, has been established to probe these allegations further.
In a fiery communique, Abure criticized Otti for using “uncouth language” against the National Working Committee (NWC) and claimed the party’s leadership was instrumental in Otti’s rise to the governorship.
The communique reads in part: “The Disciplinary Committee has concluded its assignment and has submitted its report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today, May 7th, 2025, and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution, has ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect.
“Dr. Alex Otti; Senator Ireti Kingibe; Senator Darlington Nwokocha; Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; Hon. Amobi Ogah; Hon. Seyi Sowunmi
“By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions, including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC, and security agencies, among others, are to take note.”
The party said the name of the caretaker committee chairman set up by the former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi-led faction, Nenadi Usman, was omitted from the list of the suspended members because she is not a member of the party.
The statement added: “It will surprise Nigerians and party faithful that the name of one Nenadi Usman was conspicuously omitted from the list of the suspended members of the party. First, we have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party, being not a card-carrying member of the Party. We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will, therefore, not honour her with any sanction, being not a member of the party.
“Again, we are aware that Ms Usman recently in a well-televised occasion, in cohort with a former Kaduna state governor, joined another political party where she pledged loyalty to the party. We are confused about where Usman Nenadi’s loyalty lies.
“The party leadership is also surprised that Nenadi Usman is talking about corruption when, indeed, she is the headmistress of corruption. Nigerians are already aware of all the EFCC cases against her, and we expect Ms Usman to come out and explain to Nigerians the story behind her Plea Bargain with EFCC and all the properties she allegedly forfeited. She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, and her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption.
“In any event, the party’s financial records are straight, and it will interest the members of the public to know that the party’s audited accounts have been published. INEC, being the regulatory body, sent their external auditors to audit the party’s account, and they gave a clean report and also commended the party for its financial transparency. It is on record that among the comity of Political Parties in Nigeria, the Labour Party’s financial records were adjudged to be among the best.”
The New Diplomat reports that the Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle since the 2023 general elections, with factions vying for control.
The conflict intensified after a Supreme Court ruling on April 4, 2025, which nullified a Court of Appeal decision recognizing Abure as national chairman.
Both the Abure faction and the Usman-led caretaker committee, backed by LP’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Otti, claimed victory in the ruling, citing conflicting interpretations of the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment.
