1 week Ago By KINGSLEY BENNETH
ABUJA – Days after the Supreme Court judgment on the leadership crisis in Labour Party (LP), the Julius Abure-led National Executive Council (NEC) on Monday warned Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Governor Alex Oti of Abia State over anti-party activities. It “condemned in strong terms the activities of the Caretaker Committee which he alleged was illegally established by Alex Otti and Peter Obi in a so-called stakeholders meeting held on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia.” It also insisted that the National Working Committee under Abure’s leadership was not removed by the apex court, saying, “We shall not cede ground to illegitimate actors or unconstitutional contraptions posing as transition committee.
” In his address to the party’s NEC at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, who read the resolutions of the meeting accused Governor Alex Otti of Abia State of “plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 governorship election.” The Abure-led LP also said NEC would not hesitate to discipline the Abia governor in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution, adding that the same treatment would be meted to any other erring member who violated the party’s constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be. The party also relieved Hon.
Ogene of his role as the leader of LP caucus at the House of Representatives for dereliction of duty and replaced him with Hon. Ben Etanabene. The resolution reads, “Accordingly, NEC in session reaffirmed the Nnewi National Convention held on the 27th of March 2024 that produced the current National Working Committee (NWC) members under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure.
“The NEC in session believes very strongly that the present National Working Committee will lead the party in subsequent elections to victory and therefore repose their confidence in the NWC. “NEC in session condemned in strong terms the activities of the Caretaker Committee illegally established by Alex Otti and Peter Obi in a so-called stakeholders meeting held on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia. “The Supreme Court admonished party leaders and members to always abide by the constitution of the party.
‘NEC noted that Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman. Accordingly, NEC warned all members to abide by the constitution of the party. NEC in session notes the various anti-party activities of Gov.
Alex Otti, including calling of unauthorised stakeholders meeting and usurping the powers of NEC. “He also conducted LGA election using another political party. The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC schedule to hold on Wednesday.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is also aware of the governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 governorship election. “His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and can no longer be acceptable, NEC stated that it will not hesitate to discipline him in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution. “NEC in session noted that it would not hesitate to discipline any other erring member who violates the party’s constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be.
“NEC in session in exercise of its duties, hereby caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity, and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable. “NEC in session reviewed the activities of the House of Representatives caucus leader, Honourable Victor Adam Ogene, and wishes to note as follows: That the voice of the current leadership of the party is not being heard in the hallowed lower chambers; that there is a lack of cohesion amongst our members in the House; that the leadership appears to be compromised; and that the ideology and programmes of the party are not well represented. “NEC in session, as result of the aforementioned decided to relieve Honourable Ogene of that leadership role for dereliction of duty.
Consequently, Hon. Barrister Ben Etanabene has been appointed by the NEC in session as the Labour Party’s Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives. NEC mandated the NWC to communicate the decision to relevant authorities.
“He is to hand over all the party’s properties in his possession, particularly all the financial contributions made so far by other Labour Party lawmakers which are in his possession to the party, and render proper account to the party with immediate effect. The party will go to any length to retrieve all its belongings, including monies that belong to it, which Hon. Ogene is holding tight too.
“NEC in session assured all Nigerians of a good leadership under the current leadership of the Labour Party. Labour Party is willing to provide Nigerians good governance, security, economic growth and development, infrastructure development, robust electoral system, free and independent judiciary, if given the opportunity and mandate by Nigerians to provide leaders for the country. “We therefore assure all Nigerians of a political party that is different, and that has internal party democracy.
” Earlier the embattled chairman, Julius Abure, argued that the Supreme Court did not remove him as the party’s national chairman but affirmed the supremacy of the party in handling its affairs in line with its constitution. He also added that “there is no provisions for any Caretaker Committee in the Labour Party constitution and no vacancy has ever occurred in the leadership of the party”. He further noted, “Let it be known across the federation and beyond: there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party.
“The National Working Committee, under my chairmanship, remains the recognised and legitimate leadership body of our party. “We shall not cede ground to illegitimate actors or unconstitutional contraptions posing as transition committees. As regards the Supreme Court judgment, I wish to specifically states as follows: “As opined by the apex court in this decision, the trite position is that a party is supreme over its affairs, the members and recognised organs of the party are being governed by authentic leadership elected by them on 27/03/2024.
“The purported Caretaker Committee are meddlesome interlopers and troublemakers whose only mission is to retard the progress of the party and are looking for collaborators. “To our teeming members and steadfast supporters across Nigeria, we assure you that the Labour Party remains united and committed to the vision of delivering transformative leadership. “Our mission is clear: to usher in good governance, ensure security for our citizens, drive economic development, provide jobs, and invest meaningfully in infrastructure.
Should Nigerians entrust us with power, we are prepared to lead with integrity and purpose. “The court asserted the supremacy of the party over its internal affairs and that leadership of a political party is not for any court to decide as it is a no go area for the court and so the court did not sack the NWC leadership”. The NEC meeting was attended by members of the National Working Meeting, national officers of the party, state chairmen and secretaries, stakeholders of the party, and other co-opted members of the National Executive Council provided by Article 13 (A) of the party constitution.
Meanwhile, the party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, Obi, alongside the Abia State governor, Otti, have summoned a parallel NEC meeting to hold on April 9, in Abuja. In a notice signed by the two men, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive Town Hall Engagement with major stakeholders and other organs of the party. The stakeholders listed to attend the meeting include the vice presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Ahmed Datti, serving and former senators and senatorial candidates of LP in the 2023 election, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and LP candidates in 2023 election.
Others include all members of the national caretaker committee and NTC, all former governorship candidates who are still in the party, representatives of NLC/TUC Political Commission, all members of the former LP National Working Committee, among others. The notice said the meeting is in furtherance of the Supreme Court ruling last week terminating the Julius Abure-led NWC..
