Peter Obi, Otti VS Abure, others’ crisis deepens
The last is yet to be heard about the crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) which took a new dimension with the appointment of an interim leadership to replace the Julius Abure-led.
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Recall that the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, and other critical stakeholders, led by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, on Wednesday, announced the formation of an interim leadership for the party.
Former Finance Minister, Nanedi Usman, was named the new Chairperson to head a 29-member interim committee with former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, as interim Secretary. This decision was the outcome of an expanded stakeholders meeting convened by Obi and Otti, to find a solution to the protracted leadership crisis which engulfed the party after the 2023 general elections.
The interim committee was given 90 days to organize congresses at all levels and a national convention to elect new leaders for the party.
In response to this development, National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led NWC, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the formation of a body he noted was alien to the LP Constitution.
He argued, “Assuming but not conceding that Abure’s tenure had expired like they’ve been banding around, neither Mr. Peter Obi nor Governor Alex Otti, has the authority to convene the expanded stakeholders’ meeting so-called to appoint leaders for our party.
“The issue is clear. Before the expiration of the tenure of the former NWC which Abure had the privilege of heading, we held a constitutionally approved National Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 27, 2024.
“At this convention, he was duly re-elected to serve another term. That mandate which we still enjoy, remains valid’’.
“Besides, Article 11 of our (2024) Constitution, does not provide for any organ of our party called expanded stakeholders’ meeting.” Sunday Vanguard gathered, in Abuja, that Abure and members of his NWC are warming up for a legal challenge to what they consider an attempt to violate the party’s Constitution’’.
A party insider familiar with the matter confided in this paper that a team of senior lawyers is already being assembled to take the brief.
The source said, “This matter is not as complicated as people may want to make it look like’’.
“We have a validly elected National Working Committee which is only a few months old in office.
“Some usurpers working in cahoots with those scared of the rising profile of our great party are hell-bent on ensuring that they illegally take it over or weaken it ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“What the court may have to determine is whether or not the processes laid down in our Constitution for the emergence of leadership were followed.
“Who is/ are those constitutionally responsible, recognized and empowered to convene congresses / national convention?
“Without prejudice to the Supreme Court’s ruling on a political party’s internal affairs, a judicial clarification will be useful on the position of the law with regards to an illegal body superintending over the affairs of a political party while the tenure of a validly elected executive still subsists.
“The legal team will determine other grounds after a thorough review of the issues involved.”
In a related development, other party stakeholders such as the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission-led LP Transition Committee, which was said it was not consulted ahead of the Umuahia expanded stakeholders’ meeting, have spoken out in support of the Obi/ Otti-led initiative. It described it as a right step in the right direction.
The Abdulwaheed Omar-led body urged the interim LP leadership to expand its membership to accommodate more stakeholders to have a holistic approach to managing the business of the party.
