The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has announced the cancellation of the automatic tickets previously reserved for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for the 2027 elections.
This decision was made during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the faction held on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the party declared that all political positions, from the presidency to state House of Assembly seats, would now be “open to all qualified Nigerians” in future elections.
This move comes shortly after a meeting of some Labour Party leaders, including Obi, Otti, and several elected senators and House of Representatives members, in Umuahia, Abia State, last week.
At that meeting, a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman, was appointed to lead the party for 90 days until new leadership elections could be held.
However, in a communiqué signed by Julius Abure and National Secretary Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decisions made at the Umuahia meeting, stating 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 the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi, Anambra State.”
The NEC also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop Abia State Governor Alex Otti from causing further damage to the party.
“NEC in session also note that His Excellency Alex Otti have 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,” the communiqué reads.
“On the basis of the foregoing, 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 NEC reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of Abure and the National Working Committee (NWC), urging party members to continue to respect the leadership and follow lawful directives.
“NEC in session also reimposed confidence in the leadership of Abure-led National Working Committee and urged all party members to continue to respect the leadership of the party and obey its lawful directives,” the statement added.
Additionally, the NEC authorized the NWC to fill vacant positions and approved the conduct of State, Local Government, and Ward Congresses.
The NEC also gave approval for a disciplinary committee to be established, as provided in the party’s constitution.
“NEC in session also approved the composition of the disciplinary committee as provided in the Constitution.”
In a reconciliatory move, the NEC also reviewed some previous disciplinary actions against members.
“NEC in session also approved the review of some disciplinary actions taken against some members in the spirit of reconciliation,” the communiqué concluded.
The Abure-led faction’s resolutions signal a broader effort to consolidate its leadership and settle internal conflicts ahead of the 2027 elections.