Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has fiercely rebuffed his purported suspension from the Labour Party, describing it as a laughable and desperate move by Julius Abure, whom he labeled “a clown looking for a crown.” The governor insisted that Abure is no longer the national chairman of the Labour Party and accused him of impersonation, financial misconduct, and a brazen disregard for the rule of law.
In a strongly worded statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Wednesday, Otti said the Supreme Court had already settled the matter of Abure’s chairmanship, affirming that Abure had been ousted and replaced by a legally recognized caretaker committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman.
“The attention of Governor Alex Otti has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension alongside other eminent leaders of the Labour Party from the party by the former national chairman, Julius Abure,” the statement read.
Ekeoma described the action as “an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Gov. Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda.” He further urged Nigerians to disregard the suspension, branding it a publicity stunt aimed at distracting the public from the real issues within the party.
The governor also called on the Inspector General of Police to arrest Abure for impersonation and advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold the Supreme Court’s verdict by refusing to engage Abure in any official capacity. “This is the only way to preserve the sanctity of the judiciary and protect Nigeria’s fragile democracy,” Otti stated.
According to Otti’s camp, Abure issued the suspension announcement just hours after being summoned by the Labour Party’s new caretaker committee to answer to allegations of gross misconduct, financial impropriety, and anti-party activities. They argue that the suspension was a calculated attempt to evade accountability.
“This is a typical case of a man attempting to shift attention from his own impending reckoning,” said a top party source close to the governor. “Abure knows his days of parading as LP chairman are over, and this is his last-ditch effort to remain relevant.”
The political drama comes amid a broader leadership crisis that has rocked the Labour Party in recent months. The crisis escalated after the 2023 general elections, with internal factions accusing Abure of running a one-man show and sidelining other key stakeholders.
Senator Nenadi Usman, head of the newly constituted National Caretaker Committee, has since taken steps to reform the party and restore order. Her team recently initiated investigations into the party’s finances and Abure’s alleged unilateral decision-making during his tenure.
Political analysts believe the public spat between Otti and Abure could further deepen the rift within the Labour Party and potentially weaken its national influence ahead of future elections.
Despite the internal chaos, Governor Otti reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party’s ideals, vowing to continue delivering democratic dividends to the people of Abia State. He described the attempted suspension as “a joke taken too far” and reiterated that no amount of political distraction would derail his administration’s development agenda.