By Abiola Olawale
The crisis rocking the Labour Party has continued to take different twists and turns, almost reaching its rooftop.
This is as the Julius Abure-led Labour Party claimed it has cancelled the automatic ticket it previously reserved for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, for the 2027 election.
This declaration was made by the National Executive Council meeting of the Abure-led faction.
The Abure factional NEC, after a meeting held in Abuja on Monday, asserted that it has thrown open all its tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, to all qualified Nigerians.
This was contained in a communique signed by Abure and the party’s National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim.
The Abure-led NEC also stated that it had nullified the decision taken during a meeting convened by Otti in Umuahia, Abia State.
The Abure-led NEC maintained that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party after “conducting its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi Anambra State.”
The communique reads in part: “NEC in session also noted that His Excellency Alex Otti has constantly quoted the INEC Chairman as saying that the tenure of the officers of the party has expired, which His Excellency Alex Otti said has necessitated his calling of the meeting and setting up a Caretaker Committee.
“Based on the foregoing, therefore, NEC in session hereby call on all teeming members, supporters and members of the general public to kindly disregard the so-called meeting and its outcome.”
The Abure led factional NEC also reimposed confidence in the leadership of its National Working Committee and urged all party members to continue to respect the leadership of the party and obey its lawful directives.
It also delegated its powers to fill vacant positions in the NWC and also approved the conduct of State, Local Government and Ward Congress as may be scheduled by the National Working Committee in line with the party’s Constitution and other Extant laws.
“NEC In session also approved the composition of the disciplinary committee as provided in the Constitution.
“NEC in session also approved the review of some disciplinary actions taken against some members in the spirit of reconciliation.”
The New Diplomat reports that this is coming after some leaders of the Labour Party, including Peter Obi, Otti, some elected Senators and House of Representatives members of the party, met in Umuahia, Abia State, last week to appoint a 29-man care-taker committee to lead the party in the interim.
The Committee which is chaired by former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, is mandated to midwife an election of new leadership in 90 days.
