Alex Otti has criticised former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, over his continued issuance of governorship nomination forms despite ongoing disputes surrounding the party’s leadership.
The Abia State governor’s reaction followed the circulation of photographs showing Abure presenting Labour Party governorship nomination forms to former National Vice Chairman of the party, Ceekay Igara, in the presence of other party members.
Speaking with journalists after receiving the forms, Igara explained that the move was part of efforts to prepare ahead of pending court rulings concerning the leadership crisis within the party.
According to him, stakeholders believed it was necessary to continue political activities to avoid uncertainty or institutional vacuum should the courts eventually rule in Abure’s favour.
“We have two matters, one at the Supreme Court and the other at the Federal High Court. If we say Abure should be docile, all the 33 states that conducted congresses will just go into extinction. If the Supreme Court later gives him the structure and primaries have closed, what happens?” Igara said.
However, Governor Otti, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha, faulted Abure’s actions and questioned the legitimacy of his continued claim to the position of Labour Party National Chairman.
The governor’s aide argued that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had already recognised Nenadi Usman as the interim leader of the party pending its convention.
According to Ukoha, the Labour Party had already moved beyond Abure’s leadership, while the Independent National Electoral Commission had also aligned itself with the court-backed leadership arrangement.
“I think Abure is in a better position to explain the grounds on which he is still parading himself after a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that Senator Nenadi Usman was the interim leader of the Labour Party before the convention,” Ukoha stated.
“So, the party has moved on. INEC has also complied with the directive of a competent court of jurisdiction. That is contempt of court on the part of Julius Abure.”
The governor’s spokesperson further argued that INEC could not legally supervise or recognise any political process conducted under Abure’s authority in defiance of existing court rulings.
“It is up to Abure to explain to Nigerians why he is issuing nomination forms against the order of a competent court,” he added.
The latest exchange highlights the deepening leadership crisis within the Labour Party as rival factions continue to battle for control ahead of future elections and party primaries.
