The crisis rocking Labour Party (LP) is yet to abate as different factions lay claim to the sole of the embattled party
The crisis that has almost destabilized the Labour Party (LP) had taken a dramatic turn last week when the feuding parties in the leadership tussle summoned separate National Executive Council (NEC) meetings to deliberate on the way forward after the Supreme Court judgement which directed the party to handle its internal affairs.
Last week, the Comrade Julius Abure-led faction summoned its NEC meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025, the Peter Obi/ Governor Alex Otti-led stakeholders scheduled their on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The Abure-led faction sent out invitations to those they identified as “relevant stakeholders” on Sunday, April 6 for the NEC meeting. But in a move aimed at countering the Abure faction, the Obi-Otti faction summons it’s a NEC and stakeholders meeting for Wednesday, April 9, both factional NEC meetings held in Abuja.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, said in Abuja, “The two leading figures of the Labour Party, the 2023 presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi and the sole state governor of the party, Alex Otti of Abia State, have summoned the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
“In a notice signed by the two men, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive town hall engagement with major stakeholders and other organs of the party at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
“The stakeholders listed to attend the meeting include the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2023 election, serving and former senators and senatorial candidates of LP in the 2023 election, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and LP candidates in the 2023 election.”
Included in the invitees list were all members of the National Caretaker Committee and NTC; all former governorship candidates still in the party; representatives of NLC/TUC Political Commission and all members of the former LP National Working Committee.
“The meeting is in furtherance of the Supreme Court ruling last week terminating the Julius Abure-led NWC,” the statement read in part.
On its part, the Abure-led NEC threatened to sanction the Abia State governor, Oti, if he went ahead with the planned “illegal” stakeholders meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
It also warned the Obi against any conducts or utterances which would promote disunity within the party.
The Abure faction said it would no longer take kindly to anti-party activities from any member, “no matter how highly placed.”
The Abure faction of the NEC also announced the sack of Hon. Afam Ogene from his position as the leader of the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives.
In his place, the Abure NEC appointed Barr. Ben Eternabene as the new leader.
These decisions were contained in a communique read by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, at the end of a NEC meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Farouk said: “NEC-in-session in exercise of its duties, hereby, cautions the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace, unity and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable.”
The Abure-led NEC also expressed satisfaction with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court affirming the supremacy of the party in determining its leadership.
The Abure Faction also pointed out that at no point within the Supreme Court judgement was it said that the Court sacked Abure as the national chairman.
According to Farouk, “Accordingly, NEC-in-session reaffirmed the Nnewi National Convention held on the March 27, 2024, that produced the current National Working Committee, NWC, members under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure.
“NEC-in-session condemns in strong terms the activities of the Caretaker Committee illegally established by Alex Otti and Peter Obi in a so-called stakeholders meeting held on September 4, 2024, in Umuahia.
“The Supreme Court admonished party leaders and members of the party to always abide by the constitution of the party.’’
In specific terms about the Abia State governor, the communique also stated, “NEC-in-session notes the various anti-party activities of Governor Alex Otti, including calling of unauthorized stakeholders meeting and usurping the powers of NEC.
“He also conducted LGA election using another political party. The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC schedule to hold on Wednesday.
“The leadership of Labour Party is also aware of the governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 governorship election.
“His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and can no longer be acceptable. NEC stated that it will not hesitate to discipline him, in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution.
“NEC-in-session noted that it would not hesitate to discipline any other erring member who violates the party’s constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be.
‘’On Ogene’s removal as LP Caucus Leader, NEC-in-session reviewed the activities of the House of Representatives Caucus Leader, Victor Adam Ogene and wishes to note as follows:
That the voice of the current leadership of the party is not being heard in the hallowed lower chamber; that there is a lack of cohesion among our members in the House; that the leadership appears to be compromised; and that the ideology and programmes of the party are not well represented.’’
Comrade Abure has also insisted that, “There is no vacuum in the leadership of Labour Party. The Supreme Court judgement did not say the tenure of the current NWC under my leadership has expired.
“The so-called National Caretaker Committee is an illegal body unknown to any law guiding the Labour Party. What happened in Umuahia, Abia State, was not a NEC meeting as such. The so-called Caretaker Committee is an illegal entity. The purported Caretaker Committee is just a meddlesome interloper whose sole purpose is to destroy our party.”
Meanwhile, stakeholders of the LP led by Obi, and Otti, have endorsed the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee (LP-NCC) to steer the affairs of the party until a national convention is held.
The decision was reached during the Obi-Otti-led NEC meeting and Stakeholders Interactive Townhall forum held in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9.
Governor Otti, quoting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the recent Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership tussle, stated that the court ruling had effectively resolved the matter.
Otti said, “The judgment specifically names Senator Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as appellants and ruled that the lower courts lacked jurisdiction to recognize Julius Abure as National Chairman.
“The decisions in favor of Abure were struck out, and his cross-appeal dismissed. The trial courts’ recognition of Abure was set aside.”
According to Otti, the court’s judgment reaffirms the rule of law and should be respected by all members. He emphasized the importance of following democratic processes and said the LP Caretaker Committee would begin a grassroot rebuilding of the party leading to a national convention.
“Our Caretaker Committee is not here to hold power but to midwife the emergence of new leadership,” Otti assured.
He also revealed that he had previously offered Abure an opportunity to remain part of the party leadership, either as Deputy Chairman or by contesting again, but that Abure declined.
In his remarks, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party. He said, “Even though some have speculated that I’ve left the party, let me assure you, we are Labour Party. I have never discussed joining any other party, and I won’t.”
Obi further stressed stressed the need for a unified, ideology-driven party and urged stakeholders to work from the grassroots to the national level to rebuild trust and structure.
Obi highlighted the dire economic situation in Nigeria, noting the suffering of ordinary citizens, and urged LP members to remain steadfast in promoting justice and compassion.
“We must speak up when things are wrong. Even if we fail, we must fail doing the right thing,” Obi emphasized.
In a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led LP faction, Obiora Ifoh, challenged the interpretation of the Supreme Court verdict by the Obi-Otti-led faction.
He said the judgment did not state that Abure’s leadership had lapsed or that the Usman-led committee should take over.
Ifoh said, “The Supreme Court emphatically stated that issues within the political party are internal affairs and that party supremacy must be observed.
“Any meeting convened in disregard to the party’s constitution is illegal, and its outcomes null and void. We caution those factionalizing the party to desist or face disciplinary actions.
