The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has distanced itself from the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Friday, describing the gathering as “illegal, unconstitutional, and of no consequence.”
In a statement titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities,” issued in Abuja, the factional National Secretary, Umar Farouk, insisted that only the National Chairman and National Secretary are constitutionally empowered to convene such a meeting.
“The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome are inconsequential, null and void,” the statement read in part.
Farouk was reacting to recent comments by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who called for a formal apology from Abure, Lamidi Apapa, and other factional leaders as a condition for their reintegration into the party.
The demand was made during the inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.
However, citing the Labour Party’s constitution, specifically Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii), Farouk stressed that the NEC meeting held in Umuahia was not legitimate.
“By the above provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Caretaker Committee, being the product of the illegal Umuahia meeting, is unconstitutional and of no effect.
It is important to note that there has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there will not be any until 2028,” he said.
Farouk also referenced the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court ruling, which advised political parties to resolve internal conflicts in line with their constitutions.
He criticized Otti’s role in the leadership crisis, suggesting the governor is disconnected from recent developments within the party and has lost the support of key allies.
“Dr. Otti and his co-travellers must know by now that the train of the party has moved on and the party is focused ahead of the 2027 general election with or without them.
Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed as the majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on.
He is probably living in ignorance and in the past,” Farouk added.
The faction urged Labour Party members to disregard the resolutions from the Umuahia NEC meeting and advised Governor Otti to redirect his efforts toward governance in Abia State.
“We also urge the governor to channel the Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows,” the statement concluded.
