LP Crisis: Abure Kicks As Otti States Condition For Reconciliation

LP Crisis: Abure Kicks As Otti States Condition For Reconciliation

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has asked the two factional leaders of the Labour Party, Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa, to tender a formal apology as a condition for their reintegration into the party.

Otti made the appeal during the inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as interim National Chairman and Secretary of the party respectively, on Friday.

He said, “We are calling on aggrieved members of LP including Julius Abure to reconcile with the party. We are not interested in expelling anybody. All we are asking them to do is to write a letter of apology so that the interim leaders of the party can recall them for us to work with them.”

Meanwhile, Abure’s faction has disowned the inauguration, describing the gathering as illegal, unconstitutional and of no consequence.

The faction warned Otti to desist from expending state resources on “trivialities.”

Factional National Secretary of LP, Umar Farouk, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities.”

Farouk reiterated that only the National Chairman and National Secretary have the constitutional backing to summon such a meeting.

He said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee.

“Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome is inconsequential, null and void.”

Citing Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii) of the party’s constitution, Farouk maintained that the “so-called” NEC held in Umuahia lacked legitimacy and was a direct violation of internal procedures.

“By the above provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Caretaker Committee being the product of the illegal Umuahia meeting is unconstitutional and of no effect.

“It is important to note, that there has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there will not be any until 2028, he said.

Farouk also pointed to the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court ruling that urged all intra-party disputes to be resolved internally in accordance with the party’s constitution.

He accused Otti of being out of touch with recent developments within the party, claiming many of his allies had since distanced themselves from his actions.

He said: “Dr. Otti and his co-travellers must know by now that the train of the party has moved on and the party is focused ahead of the 2027 general election with or without them,” the statement continued.

“Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed as majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on. He is probably living in ignorance and in the past.”