Presidential ticket of LP no longer reserved for Obi, says Abure faction

The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure says all its tickets ahead of the 2027 general election are open to all qualified Nigerians to contest for.

The faction took the decision after it held a national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.

“NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,” a communique from the meeting reads.

“Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.”

The faction said Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, did not have the power to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that produced a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, a former senator.

“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State His Excellency Alex Otti who convened the meeting did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” it reads.

“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.

“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides as follows; 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

Last week, Usman was appointed to lead a 29-member national caretaker committee after Otti convened a stakeholders meeting of the party in Abia.

Obi, LP presidential candidate in 2023, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, attended the meeting.

Callistus Okafor who leads another faction of the party has since rejected the Usman-led committee.

Okafor has argued that there is a subsisting order of court that makes him the acting chair of the party.