Governor Otti Rejects Labour Party Suspension, Demands Arrest of Julius Abure Over Impersonation Claims

 

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has come out swinging in response to his suspension from the Labour Party (LP), denouncing the move as illegitimate and accusing Julius Abure, the party's embattled national chairman, of impersonation. Otti’s sharp rebuttal followed an announcement made on Wednesday by a faction of the Labour Party led by Mr Abure, claiming to have suspended Otti and five other prominent members for alleged anti-party conduct.

The governor, who rode to office on the crest of the LP’s popularity during the 2023 general election, dismissed the suspension as baseless and politically motivated. In a statement issued through his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti maintained that Julius Abure lacks the authority to make such pronouncements, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment as having stripped Abure of any legal standing to act as national chairman.

Governor Otti’s reaction was swift and scathing. He accused Abure of exploiting a power vacuum and attempting to reassert control over the party’s leadership despite being legally ousted. “The Supreme Court of Nigeria has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of the Labour Party,” the governor declared. He described the suspension notice as “a joke taken too far” and an outright affront to democratic norms.

Otti emphasized that the apex court's verdict, which aligned with the Labour Party's constitution, was the legal foundation for the establishment of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee. This committee was set up to oversee the party’s affairs and conduct internal elections to usher in new leadership, following the disbandment of the Abure-led executive by the party’s National Executive Committee in September of the previous year.

Recounting the sequence of events, the governor suggested that Mr Abure's announcement came as a reactionary ploy, aimed at diverting attention from allegations he was facing within the party. Otti pointed out that Abure had only issued the suspension after being summoned by a disciplinary committee to answer to accusations involving financial misappropriation, impersonation, and anti-party activity.

“It is unfortunate that rather than respond to these serious charges, Mr Abure chose instead to announce the suspension of members who have maintained their integrity and loyalty to the party’s foundational values,” Otti remarked. He accused Abure of “acting smart by half” and described the entire episode as an ill-fated attempt to cling to power.

The governor didn’t stop at discrediting the suspension notice. He also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene by arresting Abure for impersonation. According to Otti, such action would uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s judicial system and help safeguard democratic institutions from abuse.

“Abure and his co-conspirators are nothing more than a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve,” he said, underscoring his stance that the factional actions are rooted in personal ambition rather than party interests.

Adding to the legal and political entanglement, the Supreme Court’s decision delivered on April 4 adds a layer of complexity. The highest court had set aside an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal which had recognized Abure as the Labour Party’s chair. In doing so, the court held that internal party leadership matters fall outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary. The panel upheld an appeal filed by the Usman-led group and dismissed a cross-appeal from the Abure camp, effectively revalidating the caretaker committee’s mandate.

Despite this, the Abure-led faction continues to argue that the Supreme Court ruling does not explicitly nullify Abure’s chairmanship. The LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated that the ruling merely recognized that party leadership disputes should be internally managed, without courts intervening in such matters. He asserted that the earlier appellate court decision from November 13, 2024, which affirmed Abure’s leadership, was not explicitly overturned.

The ongoing leadership battle has exposed deep fractures within the Labour Party, with two parallel factions vying for control. While Abure leads one faction, former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Otti are aligned with the other. The internal strife has left party faithful and political observers questioning the future coherence and unity of the Labour Party.

Senator Nenadi Usman, now steering the interim leadership as caretaker chair, is expected to oversee the transition to new party leadership. However, as the political brawl escalates and legal interpretations continue to diverge, there is uncertainty over when or how peace will return to the party’s ranks.

Governor Otti’s latest remarks suggest a hardened posture moving forward. His insistence on law enforcement intervention and full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling reflects a broader concern over what he sees as persistent lawlessness and power grabs within the party.

The political terrain within the LP appears to be entering a more turbulent phase, with courtrooms, press releases, and police authorities now at the center of a growing struggle for legitimacy.