Amidst escalating crisis in the Labour party, the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has announced that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election is no longer reserved exclusively for its former candidate, Peter Obi.
During a press briefing following the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure declared that the 2027 presidential ticket is now open to all qualified party members.
He stated, “The NEC reviewed the previous decision to reserve the presidential and governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti, respectively. Consequently, all party tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, are now accessible to any qualified Nigerians.”
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Abure also clarified that there will be no automatic second-term ticket for Abia State Governor Alex Otti. He emphasized that the governorship seat will be available to other aspirants.
Additionally, Abure addressed the issue of a recent stakeholders’ meeting led by former Senator Nenadi Usman, stating that Governor Alex Otti did not have the authority to convene such a meeting.
He explained that according to the party’s constitution, only the National Secretary, with the National Chairman’s approval, can call such meetings. He further noted that the meeting contravened the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires parties to give at least 21 days’ notice of conventions or meetings related to mergers and candidate nominations.
Abure asserted that no governor has the authority to remove the National Working Committee (NWC), dissolve state councils, or local government councils.
He emphasized, “No governor, regardless of their position, can force us out of office or dissolve the NWC, state councils, or LG councils. Even a military government wouldn’t do that. The mandate given to my team at the party convention on March 27, 2024, will be defended.”
He criticized the recent actions of certain members, including Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, accusing them of attempting to create division within the party through an unauthorized meeting.
Abure condemned these actions as a betrayal of the Labour Party’s principles, describing them as a reward for loyalty met with ingratitude and support met with insubordination.
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“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.
“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides as follows: 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”
Speaking further, Abure said no governor could harass them out of office, adding that such a person cannot dissolve the National Working Committee, dissolve state councils, or dissolve local government councils.
He said, “No governor that we gave a ticket can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how highly placed, will come and with a fiat, dissolve the NWC, dissolve state councils, or dissolve LG councils; even a military government would not do that. The mandate given to me and my team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention of the party held on the 27th day of March 2024, will be defended.
“We are at a critical moment in the life of our party. Recent events have shown that those who should stand with us in the fight for a better restructured, organized and united party have chosen a different path.
“A path not of unity, but of division. I speak, of course, of the illegal gathering that took place in Abia State, an attempt to create a rift within our party, led by none other than His Excellency Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti. This meeting, held without the authority or consent of the National Executive Council, sought to install a so-called ‘new leadership’.
“Let me be clear: this action was not just illegal. It was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for. A reward for loyalty with ingratitude, a reward for support with insubordination.”
