The ongoing leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Monday as two opposing factions convened separate National Executive Council (NEC) meetings to discuss the party’s future following last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling on the matter.

The faction led by Barrister Julius Abure called for an NEC meeting that is currently taking place at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the faction led by Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti has scheduled their NEC meeting for Wednesday, April 9th, also in Abuja.

The Obi/Otti faction, represented by the Caretaker Team under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, issued a statement about their meeting.

The statement, signed by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), said: “The two leading figures of the LP, the 2023 Presidential flagbearer Peter Obi and the sole state governor of the party, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State, have summoned the NEC of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.”

The statement further explained that the NEC meeting would be followed by an interactive TownHall Engagement with major stakeholders and other party organs at Transcorp Hotel.

“The stakeholders listed to attend the meeting include the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2023 election (Senator Datti Baba Ahmed), serving and former senators and senatorial candidates of LP in the 2023 election, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and LP candidates in the 2023 election, all members of the National Caretaker Committee (NTC), all former governors’ candidates who are still in the party, representatives of NLC/TUC Political Commission, and all members of the former LP National Working Committee (NWC),” the statement read.

The Obi/Otti faction emphasized that this meeting was in response to last week’s Supreme Court ruling, which effectively ended the Julius Abure-led NWC.

The Supreme Court had ruled on the leadership dispute within the party, declaring that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had overstepped its jurisdiction by recognizing Abure as the party’s National Chairman, as the leadership issue was deemed an internal matter for the party to resolve.

The judgment, delivered by a five-member panel, noted that Abure’s tenure had expired.

The court ruled in favor of the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and another party member, while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by Abure’s faction.

In response, Abure contended that the Supreme Court’s ruling underscored that lower courts should not have intervened in the internal leadership of a political party.

He argued that the court’s ruling effectively struck out Senator Nenadi Usman’s appeal at the Appeal Court and the Labour Party suit at the trial court.

Following the ruling, both factions of the Labour Party interpreted the judgment as a victory for their respective sides.

The Abure-led NEC meeting is expected to issue a communiqué that may include a proposal to suspend Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti for alleged anti-party activities, asserting that Senator Nenadi Usman is inconsequential as she was never a member of the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed rumors circulating on social media that its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has been dismissed by President Bola Tinubu.

A viral WhatsApp message claimed that Yakubu was replaced by a Prof. Olamilekan.

The message, which lacked proper attribution, read: “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.”

In response to an inquiry from Vanguard, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, simply stated: “Please, disregard. It is not true.”

Prof. Yakubu, who is nearing the end of his second term, is expected to leave office towards the end of the year.

The process for appointing a new INEC chairman involves the President nominating a candidate and submitting their details to the Department of State Services (DSS) for profiling.

After this, the name is forwarded to the National Council of State for an advisory review, before being sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, 

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ibezi, has defected from the party and endorsed the re-election of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Ibezi, who previously represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, made the announcement during a meeting with his political associates at his country home in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, on Sunday.

Ibezi pointed to the APC’s governorship primary election, which resulted in Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu emerging as the party’s candidate, as one of the main reasons for his departure.

He described the primary process as a “charade” and stated that the APC had failed to select a credible and electable candidate.

He explained that his decision to back Governor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was based on his belief in the governor’s work and his desire to see Anambra continue to progress.

“I have switched my support to Governor Soludo. Just like I delivered Idemili North and South to President Bola Tinubu in 2023, and to Soludo in the last election, I will once again mobilise votes in November to ensure Soludo’s victory,” Ibezi declared.

“Soludo must return for a second term. I have toured his projects and I am convinced he is working. If your party is not ready to win, what do you do? You move on. I can’t be part of a party that is unserious about governance and victory.”

Ibezi further addressed his followers, emphasizing that any of his loyalists who did not understand his shift in political allegiance “lacks the basic understanding of politics.”

He added, “Our support for Soludo is total and immediate. The APC is not prepared, and we won’t waste our time.”

This move comes amid growing dissatisfaction within the APC, following the withdrawal of three leading governorship aspirants—Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and Chukwuma Umeoji—just hours before Saturday’s primary.

The three aspirants cited irregularities and claims of violent conduct by some of the supporters of one of the candidates as their reasons for withdrawing from the race.

Okonkwo stated in a statement that he could not, in good conscience, risk the lives of his supporters “in pursuit of a manipulated primary,” while Chukwuma referred to the process as being hijacked by “retrogressive forces.”

Governor Otti, 

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has unequivocally dismissed any speculation about his intention to run for a Senate seat after completing his tenure.

Otti made this clear during a reception organized in his honor by the Anambra Development Unions Association, Aba branch, on Saturday.

Addressing the rumors, the governor described them as unfounded and misleading.

“When I finish my eight years here, I will retire. I am not going to Abuja,” Otti stated, urging his critics to cease spreading false information.

The governor emphasized the importance of creating space for younger leaders, pointing out the shift in the political landscape and the increasing involvement of youth in governance.

“We are no longer that young. Society is changing, and the young ones are rising. It’s time we give them the opportunity,” he remarked.

Otti also revealed plans to revisit the 2011 dismissal of 154 state workers, primarily teachers, from the civil service.

He stated that the Head of Service would be directed to conduct an urgent review of the situation for potential redress.

Those under the age of 65 may be re-engaged on a contract basis, particularly given the ongoing teacher shortage in the state.

The governor condemned the workers’ dismissal based on their state of origin, calling it both unjust and illegal.

“For those outside the age bracket, we’ll find fair compensation mechanisms,” he assured.

Otti reaffirmed his commitment to justice, inclusivity, and addressing the wrongs of previous administrations.

At the event, lawmaker Stephen Ucheonye and Chief Obiora Nwakpadolo commended Otti’s leadership and developmental achievements.

They explained that the governor’s performance was the inspiration behind the reception held in his honor.

Vice President Shettima, 

Stakeholders from the North-Central zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called for President Bola Tinubu to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the upcoming election.

The group has urged Tinubu to select a running mate from their region if he seeks their support for his re-election.

DAILY GAZETTE gathered these stakeholders have started engaging with political heavyweights and former public office holders to bring their aspiration to fruition.

They held a private meeting on Saturday, which included notable figures such as the former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd), the Onah of Abaji, His Royal Highness Musa Yunusa, former Senator John Danboyi, and other unmentioned individuals, all pushing for the agenda of a North-Central presidency.

Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, the Chairman of the North-Central Renaissance Movement and leader of the delegation, shared a statement with DAILY GAZETTE.

The statement read, “The North Central is strengthening advocacy for the return of presidency to the zone come 2027 through high-level consultations with prominent figures in the geo-political zone and Nigeria at large.”

“We appealed for the cooperation of Nigerians to make the agitation a reality and put the region in the equation of other zones who have enjoyed the constitutional right of producing president and vice president in Nigeria as the zone has what it takes to lead rather than to be led all the times.”

This move follows a press conference held just two days earlier, where hundreds of stakeholders and party leaders from the North-Central announced their unified effort to produce the next President after 65 years of perceived marginalization.

Olumide Akpata, 

The judgment by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has not put an end to the matter.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to challenge the ruling, describing it as a judicial endorsement of electoral fraud.

In a statement issued from Abuja after reviewing the Certified True Copy of the judgment, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo State, called the verdict a travesty.

He argued that the tribunal placed technicalities above justice and ignored clear evidence of electoral malpractice.

“We are proceeding to the Court of Appeal with the facts, the law, and the will of the Edo people firmly on our side,” Aziegbemi declared, accusing the tribunal of acting as a “fourth respondent” by allegedly inventing legal barriers to shield a flawed election.

The PDP’s petition claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulated the election in favor of the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo, by using fake result sheets and disregarding its own guidelines.

“The judgment failed to address an electoral coup,” said Anthony Ehilebo, Special Adviser on Media to the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

“Tap Initiative’s forensic audit revealed that many result sheets appeared to have been filled by a single hand. Yet, INEC’s own IReV portal still shows the authentic results.”

Despite the PDP’s criticism, Okpebholo has extended an olive branch, urging Ighodalo to join him in the effort to build a better Edo State.

However, PDP leaders have rejected the offer, calling it premature.

“There can be no peace without justice,” said party stalwart Goodluck Osaretin. “What happened was a stolen mandate. We are determined to retrieve it through the courts.”

Meanwhile, Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, has explained why he chose not to challenge the election result at the tribunal.

On October 21, 2024, the last day for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal, Akpata, who had campaigned under the slogan #EdoWillBeOk, explained his decision not to contest the results.

“My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system,” Akpata stated.

“I choose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that sometimes serve to legitimise a fundamentally compromised process. The burden of proof placed on petitioners is not just high; it is often insurmountable.”

Akpata finished a distant third in the election, securing just 22,763 votes, as Okpebholo of the APC was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).