John Nwaigwe
Labour Party Chairman Warns Obi and Otti: No Leadership Vacuum Ahead of NEC Meeting
Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), issued a stern warning on Monday, asserting that there is no vacancy in the party’s leadership. The statement comes in response to a planned National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting called by the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Addressing a public conference at the LP secretariat, Abure labeled Obi and Otti as “betrayals,” accusing them of undermining the party. He emphasized that a recent Supreme Court judgment reaffirmed that LP matters are internal affairs, dismissing any speculation about a leadership crisis. “Tell them that there is no vacancy in our party,” Abure declared. “In the Labour Party, we don’t betray our candidates, even though some betray us after giving them tickets.”
Abure urged party members and the public to ignore what he called a “misleading interpretation” of the Supreme Court’s ruling from the previous week. He reiterated his position as the legitimate National Chairman, adding that the LP Constitution does not allow for the establishment of a caretaker committee to manage party affairs.
The controversy stems from Obi and Otti’s announcement of a NEC meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja, to be followed by a town hall engagement with key stakeholders at the Transcorp Hilton. The duo’s move has sparked tensions within the party, with Abure firmly rejecting any suggestion of a leadership shakeup.
