LP Crisis: There’s No Vacancy, I’m Still the Substantive National Chairman, Says Abure

•Obi, Otti summon emergency NEC  

•Chair’s faction threatens to sanction leaders for anti-party

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

In spite of the recent Supreme Court judgment, the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, yesterday, insisted that he remained the national chairman of the party.

This was as the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi; the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti and the chairman of the Party’s National Caretaker committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, have summoned an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for Wednesday

Speaking at his factional NEC meeting, Abure told the meeting that there was no vacancy in the Labour Party.

He said by the judgement of the apex court, he remained the authentic national chairman of the party.

Abure subsequently said, ‘’The caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman and others are illegitimate and not recognised by the party’s constitution.

‘’As far as the Labour Party is concerned, the meeting held in Umuahia in Abia State where the National Caretaker was formed is illegal.’’

He said at the expiration of his tenure, the National Working Committee under his leadership conducted a national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State on March 29 2024, where he was reelected as national chairman to lead other members of the executive committee of the party.

However, in anticipation of any breakdown of law and order, the police on Monday took strategic positions at the Labour Party National secretariat in Jabi, Abuja.

As at press time, the Abure-led party was still holding an emergency NEC meeting where disciplinary action could be taken against Obi, Otti, Nenadi Usman and other members of the party.

Also, Obi, and Otti, have summoned an urgent meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

The meeting is scheduled to hold in Abuja on Wednesday April 9, 2025.

In a notice jointly signed by Obi and Otti, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive Town Hall Engagement by the leadership and other organs of the party alongside major stakeholders.

This meeting is scheduled to hold at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

According to a statement by Ibrahim Umar, the Spokesperson of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), “The meeting is in furtherance of the Supreme Court ruling last working terminating the Julius Abure-led NWC.”

Nevertheless, the Labour Party executive loyal to Julius Abure after its NEC meeting, yesterday, accused Obi and Otti of of anti party activities.

The Abure faction threatened to sanction them should they continue with their anti party activities.

In a communique signed by Abure and the factional secretary, Umar Farouk, they said, ‘’NEC in session noted that it would not hesitate to discipline any other erring member who violates the party constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be.

‘’NEC in session in exercise of its duties, hereby caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity, and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable.”