The crisis in the Labour Party (LP) intensified on Monday as the embattled national chairman, Julius Abure, and the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, exchanged accusations over the party's leadership issues.
During a national executive council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Abure accused Obi and the party's sole governor, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State, of creating divisions within the party for selfish reasons.
He labelled a recent stakeholders' meeting held by Obi and Otti in Umuahia, Abia State, as an attempt to undermine the party's leadership. At the stakeholders' meeting, a 29-member caretaker committee was formed, headed by former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman.
However, the Abure-led national working committee (NWC) dismissed the gathering as illegal. Abure insisted the NEC did not authorise the meeting and claimed the crisis was deepened by Obi and Otti's actions.
"We are at a critical juncture in the life of our party. Recent events show that those who should stand with us have chosen the path of division," Abure said, condemning the Umuahia meeting. He affirmed that the leadership elected at the March 27 convention would not step down despite internal and external pressure.
Abure also criticised Otti for allegedly spreading misinformation, particularly regarding the party's 2023 election campaign funds and claims about a Supreme Court judgment. He challenged Otti to provide evidence of the judgment and clarified that any disputes concerning a 2017 consent judgment had been resolved.
No more automatic tickets for Obi, Otti -- Abure
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Abure added that, "NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its 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 open to all qualified Nigerians."
Meanwhile, Obi rejected Abure's accusations of betrayal, describing them as politically motivated.
Speaking through Comrade Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi expressed disappointment in Abure's remarks. Obi's camp reiterated that the stakeholders' meeting in Umuahia was aimed at resolving the leadership crisis and ensuring unity within the party.
"We will not engage in name-calling or character assassination. Instead, we call on Julius Abure to accept the intervention by Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, which aimed to resolve any misunderstandings," Umar said.
