ABUJA — The ongoing leadership crisis within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) reached a boiling point on Wednesday as the Julius Abure-led faction issued a stern warning to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, over what it described as an “illegal” National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) condemned the meeting, stating it lacked constitutional backing and would not be recognized by the legally constituted leadership of the party.
“The leadership of the Labour Party ably led by Barrister Julius Abure has been vindicated by the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgement in the matter between Nenadi Usman and the Labour Party,” the statement reads. “At no point did the apex court rule that the Abure-led executive had ceased to exist or mandated a takeover by Senator Nenadi Usman and her so-called caretaker committee.”
This rebuttal comes amid rising tension within the party following attempts by the Usman-led faction to assert control, citing the same Supreme Court ruling as a basis for its legitimacy. On Wednesday, Peter Obi and Governor Otti, prominent allies of the Usman faction, issued a joint notice for the NEC meeting, which reportedly took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The gathering included key stakeholders such as Obi’s former running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, sitting and former lawmakers, former governors, and representatives of labour unions including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). According to the conveners, the meeting and a subsequent town hall engagement aimed to “reposition the Labour Party” and “reclaim its moral compass.”
However, the Abure faction maintains that the NEC meeting was unconstitutional, stressing that party leadership can only be determined by the national convention, not factional meetings or media declarations.
“The national convention of March 2024 duly elected our leadership in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act,” the statement noted. “Their tenure remains valid. Any parallel meeting that contravenes these provisions is null and void.”
The party further accused Obi, Otti, and other members of the Usman-aligned group of engaging in factional activities that undermine the party’s unity and democratic framework. It warned that disciplinary measures could be enforced against those found guilty of breaching party protocols.
Legal experts remain divided on the interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling referenced by both factions. While the court emphasized the principle of party supremacy and the internal nature of party affairs, it did not explicitly endorse either faction. This ambiguity has been seized upon by both camps, further fueling the leadership dispute.
The Labour Party has been riddled with internal wrangling since its surprising performance in the 2023 general elections, which saw Peter Obi emerge as a formidable third-force candidate, reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape. But rather than consolidating on those gains, the party now finds itself grappling with factionalism, court battles, and conflicting leadership claims that could undermine its 2027 ambitions.
As the conflict escalates, observers warn that continued internal divisions may erode public confidence in the party and weaken its influence ahead of future elections.
Whether a resolution will come through legal clarification, reconciliation, or party reform remains to be seen.
Reference
Labour Party Crisis Deepens as Abure-Led Faction Warns Obi, Otti Against ‘Illegal’ NEC Meeting