LP crisis: Obi, Alex Otti have betrayed us, says Abure faction

The faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party in 2023, and Alex Otti, governor of Abia state, have betrayed it.

The faction is miffed at both men because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to recognise Abure as LP national chair.

INEC’s position was contained in a counter affidavit filed in the Abuja federal high court.

The counter affidavit was in response to a suit filed by the Abure-led LP faction which is challenging its exclusion from uploading the names of its party agents on the INEC website for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

The electoral commission said Abure’s tenure as national chair of the opposition party expired in June 2024.

In reaction to the development on Wednesday, Obiora Ifoh, spokesperson of the faction, said some of the people who want Abure out did not have money to purchase nomination forms in the build-up to the 2023 election.

“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections,” Ifoh said in a statement.

“However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman.

“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.

“They ought to know that the Labour Party is going through these challenging times simply because of its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election.

“For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how the Labour Party reduced its guards in accommodating some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties.

“Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”

Nenadi Usman, a former senator, has since been appointed as national chair of the LP caretaker committee, following a party stakeholders meeting called by Otti recently.

Obi, and Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate in 2023, were among the top party members that attended the meeting.