THE Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, has revoked the automatic ticket previously granted to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for the 2027 election.
This decision was revealed in a resolution following a National Executive Council meeting conducted by the Abure faction of the party today in Abuja.
The party announced that all its positions, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, are now open to all qualified Nigerians.
This change follows a gathering of some Labour Party leaders, including Obi, Otti, and several elected Senators and Representatives, who convened last week in Umuahia, Abia State, to establish a 29-member caretaker committee to temporarily lead the party.
The committee, which will be chaired by former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman, is expected to oversee the election of new leadership within 90 days.
However, a communiqué signed by Abure and National Secretary Umar Ibrahim indicated that the NEC nullified the decisions made at the stakeholders meeting called by Otti in Umuahia.
The Abure-led NEC asserted that there was no leadership vacuum in the party since it conducted its National Convention in accordance with its constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State.
It subsequently urged INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu “to cease supporting Governor Alex Otti in actions that could harm the party.”
The NEC also noted that Governor Otti had frequently cited the INEC Chairman as stating that the tenure of the party’s officers had expired, which Otti claimed justified the meeting and the establishment of a caretaker committee.
In light of this, the NEC called on all members, supporters, and the general public to disregard the aforementioned meeting and its conclusions.
Additionally, the NEC reaffirmed its confidence in Abure’s National Working Committee and encouraged all party members to respect the party leadership and comply with its lawful directives.
The NEC further granted itself the authority to fill vacant positions within the NWC and approved the scheduling of State, Local Government, and Ward Congresses in accordance with the party’s Constitution and relevant laws.
Finally, the NEC approved the formation of a disciplinary committee as stipulated in the Constitution and agreed to review certain disciplinary measures taken against some members in a spirit of reconciliation.
