Overview of the Crisis
The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has deepened, as the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, accused Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate, and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State of plotting to forcefully take over the party’s leadership structure.
According to Ibrahim, the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting recently held by Obi and Otti was unconstitutional and unauthorized, thus rendering it illegitimate.
Controversial Visit to INEC Headquarters
The tension escalated when Governor Otti led a Labour Party delegation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. The team, which included Peter Obi, reportedly submitted a Certified True Copy of a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the party’s leadership.
While this move might appear procedural, Ibrahim alleges it was a tactical move to manipulate INEC into recognizing an illegitimate leadership faction.
Read more on Political Leadership Disputes in Nigeria
Labour Party’s Official Response
In a strongly-worded press release signed by Ibrahim, he stated:
“The leadership of the Labour Party strongly condemns the illegal NEC meeting organized by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti. Their actions reflect a deep level of desperation to seize control of the party’s structure.”
Ibrahim criticized the duo for misleading their supporters and attempting to pressure INEC into overstepping its legal boundaries.
Claims of Power Exchange Proposal
Another key revelation from the meeting was a purported offer made by Obi and Otti to Barrister Julius Abure, the embattled former National Chairman of the Labour Party. According to Ibrahim, they proposed that Abure be given the role of Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) as a way of softening the leadership tussle.
However, Ibrahim dismissed the offer, emphasizing that Abure’s leadership was not self-imposed but decided by the legitimate structures of the party.
Final Stand by LP Leadership
The party leadership, under Ibrahim, urged all members and the general public to ignore the outcome of the alleged NEC meeting, branding it as illegitimate and unrepresentative of the true organs of the Labour Party.
“This is not about Abure. It’s about the legitimacy of the party structure and respecting the rule of law within our organization.”
Conclusion
The unfolding drama within the Labour Party raises concerns over the internal democratic processes in Nigerian political parties. As the 2027 general elections inch closer, this leadership crisis could shape or shake the party’s unity and electoral future.
Stay tuned to LMSINT MEDIA for detailed updates on Nigerian politics and party developments.
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