The Julius Abure-led Labour Party has disowned Friday’s National Executive Committee meeting of stakeholders of the party.
While describing the gathering as illegal, unconstitutional and of no consequence, the faction also warned Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to desist from expending state resources on trivialities.
The factional National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities.”
Farouk reiterated that only the National Chairman and National Secretary have the constitutional backing to summon such a meeting.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome are inconsequential, null and void”, the statement partly read.
Farouk was reacting to the call by Otti for Abure, another factional leader, Lamidi Apapa and other disgruntled members to tender a formal apology as a condition for their reintegration into the party.
The governor made the demand during the official inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.
Citing Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii) of the party’s constitution, Farouk maintained that the so-called NEC held in Umuahia lacked legitimacy and was a direct violation of internal procedures.
“By the above provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Caretaker Committee, being the product of the illegal Umuahia meeting, is unconstitutional and of no effect.
“It is important to note that there has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there will not be any until 2028”, he said.
He also pointed to the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court ruling that urged all intra-party disputes to be resolved internally in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Farouk accused Otti of being out of touch with recent developments within the party, claiming many of his allies had since distanced themselves from his actions.
“Dr. Otti and his co-travellers must know by now that the train of the party has moved on and the party is focused ahead of the 2027 general election with or without them.
“Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed as the majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on. He is probably living in ignorance and in the past,” the statement continued.
The party, therefore, called on members to ignore the outcome of the meeting and urged the Abia State governor to focus on governance.
“We also urge the governor to channel the Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows,” the party concluded.
