Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has called for unity within the Labour Party (LP) despite the ongoing leadership tussle, emphasizing that all efforts must be made to ensure the party's success ahead of 2027.
The governor made this call on Friday in Abuja during the party's National Executive Council meeting, which was attended by key figures including the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
"As law abiding people, we felt we should obey the Supreme Court judgment and what we are here to do is to begin a structured process by formalising some key committees like the interim National Working Committee which will oversee all party activities till the party's convention when elections for a new NEC will be conducted," the governor said.
Otti, who is currently the party's only governor, pointed out that the statutory NEC meeting was convened following the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Senator Usman Nenadi as the LP National Chairman. He advised the Julius Abure-led faction to demonstrate humility and respect the apex court's decision.
The governor also acknowledged the NLC for forming the party but noted that the LP has now grown beyond its founder. "Now the party is bigger than the NLC," he stated, urging members to work together for the greater good of the party.
In his remarks, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the Labour Party as "a party for the common man" and encouraged members not to be discouraged by the challenges facing the organization.
"Anyone that is not with us and is not working with the Labour force and claims that the party Chairman is a day dreamer... When the day of reckoning comes we will say we don't know you," Ajaero warned.
Background of the Leadership Crisis
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership dispute that has pitted Abure and his cabinet against Nenadi Usman's Caretaker Committee, which was constituted by the party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti, and other elected officials.
In April, a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to pronounce Abure as National Chairman of the LP. The apex court determined that the issue of leadership was an internal party affair over which courts lacked jurisdiction and noted that Abure's tenure had already expired.
The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi and one other, holding that it was meritorious, while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction for being unmeritorious.
This development marks a significant moment for the Labour Party as it attempts to reorganize and strengthen its structure ahead of future electoral contests, particularly the 2027 general elections.
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