Yesterday, the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee (NEC), which rejected the caretaker committee constituted to organize congress, withdrew the 2027 automatic presidential ticket reserved for Mr. Peter Obi and the governorship ticket for Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Obi, former governor of Anambra State and symbol of the ‘Obedient Movement, ‘ was the party’s candidate in last year’s election.
The chairman said the ticket will now be open to other aspirants.
Abure, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after NEC meeting, chided Otti for convening what he described as illegal stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, capital of Abia State.
He vowed to continue to function as national chairman, stressing that the setting up of a National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Esther Usman Nnenadi was a nullity.
Currently, the caretaker panel is not operating from the national party secretariat because Abure and the other NWC members are staying put. They are operating from a makeshift office, a source said.
The caretaker committee was given the mandate to organize elections into party offices from ward to the national level within 90 days.
During its national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, LP had adopted Obi as its presidential candidate and Otti as its governorship flagbearer for 2027 elections.
But Abure said the 2027 presidential ticket was now open to all qualified Nigerians.
He said: “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.”
The chairman maintained that Obi lacked the power to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that produced the Nnenadi caretaker committee.
He said the meeting contravened the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022, insisting that it is an “illegality and a nullity.”
Abure maintained there was no leadership vacuum, urging the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu “to stop aiding and abetting” Obi against the party.
Abure said: “The NEC in session noted that Governor Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the party’s constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives the power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the national chairman.
“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.”
Abure said no governor can harass him out of office, adding that no governor can also dissolve the NWC, state and local government executive committees.
He stressed: “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.”
Abure said the party has set up a disciplinary committee to discipline members who participated in the stakeholders’ meeting.
He also clarified that the party was not involved in the handling of finances for the presidential campaign in last year’s elections.
Abure said: “The signatories to these accounts were Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo. They were equally responsible for the payment of Polling Unit Agents.
“Consequently, it is mischievous for any person to accuse me and the party for the mismanagement of these funds. At no time did the party or its officials engage in any financial transactions as it relates to the presidential campaign.
“It will be safe for me at this point to conclude that I and my colleagues elected in the Convention of our party held on the 27th day of March 2024 will defend the mandate given to us by members of this party. No amount of intimidation or harassment will make us surrender this leadership.
“Together, we will continue to build this party into a formidable force, one that truly represents the interests of all Nigerians. The beautiful ones are not yet born, but their birth is near, and it will be through the Labour Party that they will rise to lead this great nation.”
The Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said Obi would personally respond to the withdrawal of the ticket earlier offered to him by the party.
He also said the party was making efforts to set up an office for the caretaker committee in Abuja to conduct its affairs.
