The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, have written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the establishment of a 29-member caretaker committee by the party’s expanded stakeholders. This move has intensified the ongoing power struggle within the party as the sacked National Working Committee led by Julius Abure refuses to vacate office. All eyes are now on INEC to determine which faction holds the authentic leadership of the party.
Julius Abure, the former National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has faced numerous legal and political battles since the 2023 general election. In April 2023, Lamidi Apapa, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, declared himself as the Acting National Chairman following a court order restraining Abure from assuming the position. Although Apapa claimed the support of Peter Obi’s followers, the state party chairmen backed Abure’s leadership.
Despite facing legal challenges and corruption-related allegations, Abure managed to survive with the support of critical stakeholders. However, his leadership began to falter when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) withdrew its support. The NLC disagreed with Abure’s decision to hold the party’s National Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, without the participation of the labor union and other important stakeholders.
The situation worsened for Abure when INEC stated that it did not monitor the Nnewi convention. In response to a request for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the convention’s report and a copy of the party’s constitution, INEC informed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Steve Adehi, that they did not monitor the convention. INEC’s response raised concerns that the electoral body did not recognize the outcome of the convention, potentially de-legitimizing Abure’s leadership.
The LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, argued that INEC’s letter did not explicitly reject the convention’s outcome. Ifoh cited the Electoral Act, stating that it is not compulsory for INEC to be present during internal party exercises. According to Ifoh, the LP duly informed INEC about the convention in accordance with the Electoral Act, which requires parties to notify the commission three weeks in advance of a national convention.
Despite these arguments, Abure lost the support of critical stakeholders within the party. In response, Peter Obi and Alex Otti convened an expanded stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, where they sacked the Abure-led NWC and established a 29-member caretaker committee. The committee’s mandate is to organize the party’s congresses and national convention within 180 days.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of INEC, Obi and Otti notified the electoral body about the caretaker committee’s formation and highlighted the leadership crisis within the LP that led to the de-recognition of the Abure-led NWC by INEC. The letter referred to a settlement agreement brokered by INEC in 2022, deferred until after the 2023 election, which stipulated that the party should organize an all-inclusive convention after conducting ward, local, and state congresses within one year. However, Abure went ahead with the convention in March 2024 without organizing the congresses, creating a leadership vacuum within the party.
Abure’s faction has denounced the outcome of the stakeholders meeting, considering it null and void. The sacked National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, argued that Otti and others lack the constitutional authority to convene a party meeting. Ifoh also alleged that the chairman of the caretaker committee, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, is not a registered member of the party and only participated in Peter Obi’s presidential campaign.
The recognition of the party’s authentic leadership now rests with INEC, as Obi and Otti seek approval for the caretaker committee while Abure claims the party’s national chairmanship. The decision made by INEC may further fuel legal disputes within the party.