The Julius Abure-led Labour Party has revoked the automatic tickets previously reserved for Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, Nigeria for the 2027 elections. This decision was announced following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.
According to a communique signed by Abure and the National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NEC stated that “all tickets, from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, are now open to all qualified Nigerians.” This development comes after Obi, Otti, and other Labour Party leaders held a meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, last week to appoint a 29-member caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs in the interim. The committee, chaired by former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman, is expected to conduct an election of new leadership within 90 days.
However, the NEC nullified the decisions taken at the Umuahia stakeholders meeting, maintaining that there was no leadership vacuum. “The party conducted its National Convention in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State,” the NEC emphasized.
The NEC called on the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, to “stop aiding and abetting the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to further cause damage to the party.” The communique also added, “NEC in session notes that His Excellency Alex Otti has constantly quoted the INEC Chairman as saying that the tenure of the officers of the party has expired, which His Excellency Alex Otti said necessitated his calling of the meeting and setting up a caretaker committee.”
The NEC urged all party members to disregard the actions and decisions from the Umuahia meeting and reaffirmed its confidence in the Abure-led National Working Committee, stating, “We call on all teeming members, supporters, and the general public to kindly disregard the so-called meeting and its outcome.”
In addition, the NEC delegated its powers to fill vacant positions within the NWC and approved the conduct of state, local government, and ward congresses as may be scheduled by the National Working Committee. It also endorsed the composition of a disciplinary committee as provided in the party’s constitution and the review of some disciplinary actions taken against members “in the spirit of reconciliation.”
