The Labour Party (LP) has officially reported Abia State Governor Alex Otti to President Bola Tinubu, claiming the governor "has not added any value" to the party despite being accepted in 2022 after allegedly being "rejected by virtually every other political party in Nigeria."

In a statement issued on Monday by the party's National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, LP urged President Tinubu to intervene and persuade Governor Otti to cease what they described as threats against the party and its leadership.

The statement comes amid an escalating internal crisis following Otti's recent suspension from the party. According to Farouk, the governor is "on a mission to stifle life out of the Labour Party ahead of 2027 general election before making way to his already known preferred destination."

The party expressed shock that Governor Otti had described LP's National Chairman, Julius Abure, as a "clown in search of a crown." Farouk countered this characterization, stating that "Abure was already wearing the crown before Otti met them at the party, genuflecting and wearing a humble demeanour."

More seriously, the Labour Party accused Otti of ordering the arrest and detention of several party officials, including LP's National Vice Chairman, Ceekay Igara, the state chairman, Prince Ndubeze, and other party leaders for holding what they described as a lawful party meeting in Aba, Abia State.

"We are not only condemning this despicable action of the governor who was recently suspended by the party but are also seeking the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to persuade the governor from further threat to our party and the leadership," the statement read in part.

The Labour Party specifically called on President Tinubu to "rein in on the governor and to remind him that there is no place for tyranny in a democratic system," adding that "Our Lives Matter, politics or not."

In what appears to be a reference to suspected political realignment plans, the statement questioned why a governor who previously had "absolute cooperation with the leadership of his party" and who had "publicly told the world that God used Abure to make him the governor" would suddenly "vacillate and somersault," creating an "unnecessary crisis in his own party."

As of the time of this report, Governor Otti has not issued an official response to these allegations. The growing rift between the Abia State governor and the Labour Party leadership raises questions about political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.