Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed his alleged suspension from the Labour Party by a faction led by Julius Abure, describing it as an unserious move aimed at gaining attention.
Reacting swiftly through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor said Abure’s actions were nothing more than a publicity stunt, stating that the suspension had no basis or consequence.
Ekeoma’s statement, issued Wednesday night, urged Nigerians to ignore what he called a baseless announcement by individuals he labeled as jesters within the party.
“The attention of His Excellency the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension alongside other eminent leaders of the Labour Party from the Party by the former National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure.
“The statement by Abure and his gang of comedians is not only a joke taken too far, but an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda.”
Ekeoma stressed that the Supreme Court had already ruled that Abure was no longer the party’s national chairman, and that ruling laid the groundwork for the emergence of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.
“For the records, the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of Labour Party.”
“The judgement which is in agreement with the Constitution of Labour Party, and formed the basis for the setting up of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee stripped Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
Ekeoma alleged that Abure’s announcement was a diversionary tactic following a summons by the caretaker committee to answer serious charges.
“Just few hours after being summoned by a Committee Set up by the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee to come and respond to allegations of gross misconduct bordering on financial misappropriation, impersonation and anti Party activities levelled against him, Abure decided to be smart by half by rushing to the press to announce the purported suspension of Governor Otti and other eminent members of the party.”
He called on Nigerians to treat the announcement with the ridicule it deserved.
“We enjoin Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.”
The statement concluded with a call to law enforcement and electoral authorities to act.
“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly arrest Mr Abure for impersonation, while INEC should ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court judgement as a way of preserving the integrity of the Supreme Court and protecting our democracy.”
