The Labour Party, led by Julius Abure, has revoked the automatic ticket it had previously set aside for Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, for the 2027 election.
Following its National Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja, the Abure section of the party made this known in their resolution.
According to the party, it has extended its invitations to all eligible Nigerians to run for office, including the presidency and the House of Representatives.
This comes after a group of Labour Party officials, including Obi and Otti, as well as several elected senators and members of the House of Representatives, convened in Umuahia, Abia State, last week to select a 29-member caretaker committee to govern the party in the interim.
In 90 days, the Committee—which will be led by Nenadi Usman, a former finance minister—will oversee the election of a new leadership.
However, the NEC revoked the decision made during the stakeholders’ meeting that Otti called in Umuahia, according to a statement signed by Abure and Umar Ibrahim, National Secretary.
The Abure-led NEC maintained that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party after “conducting its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi Anambra State.”
As a result, it urged Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, “to cease aiding and abetting the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to further cause damage to the party.”
“NEC in session also note that His Excellency Alex Otti have constantly quoted the INEC Chairman as saying that the tenure of the officers of the party has expired, which His Excellency Alex Otti said has necessitated his calling of the meeting and setting up a Caretaker Committee.
“On the basis of the foregoing therefore, NEC in session hereby call on all teeming members, supporters and members of the general public to kindly disregard the so-called meeting and its outcome.”
The NEC also asked all party members to uphold the party’s legitimate directives and continue to show respect for the leadership of the Abure-led National Working Committee.
Along with approving the conduct of State, Local Government, and Ward Congress as may be scheduled by the National Working Committee in accordance with the party’s Constitution and other existing legislation, it also delegated its powers to fill open posts in the NWC.
“NEC In session also approved the composition of the diciplinary committee as provided in Constitution.
“NEC in session also approved the review of some disciplinary actions taken against some members in the spirit of reconciliation.”
