The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has dismissed the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting convened today by the opposing faction, describing it as illegal, unconstitutional, and of no consequence.
This was made known in a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, who stressed that the gathering was nothing more than an assembly of suspended members parading themselves as the party’s NEC.
According to the statement, the Labour Party’s constitution clearly defines the processes and authorities empowered to convene a NEC meeting.
Specifically, Article 14(4)(b) vests the power to summon such meetings in the National Secretary, but only in consultation with the National Chairman.
Additionally, Article 13(B)(xii) provides that only the NEC can establish ad-hoc and standing committees and appoint members to those committees.
“By these constitutional provisions, any meeting orchestrated by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the so-called Caretaker Committee, which emerged from the illegal Umuahia meeting, is null, void, and without any legal effect,” the statement asserted.
“It is important to reiterate that there is no vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there won’t be until 2028.”
The Abure-led leadership further referenced the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which unequivocally affirmed the legitimacy of the executive led by Barrister Julius Abure.
The apex court also reaffirmed the principle that disputes within political parties must be resolved internally, thereby reinforcing the supremacy of the party’s structures and constitution.
The party also cautioned Dr. Otti and his allies, insisting that the Labour Party is already moving forward in preparation for the 2027 general elections, with or without their involvement.
“Governor Otti may be unaware that the majority of his supporters and collaborators have already abandoned him. He appears to be stuck in the past, oblivious to the current political reality,” the statement noted.
The faction advised Governor Otti to heed earlier warnings and focus on governance in Abia State rather than expending state resources on political distractions.
“We urge him to channel his energy and the state’s resources towards providing essential infrastructure and public services for the people of Abia, instead of pursuing futile political ventures,” the party added.
Consequently, the Abure-led Labour Party denounced the rival faction’s meeting and urged party members nationwide to disregard its outcome.
IREPORT247NEWS had earlier reported that the Labour Party has renewed the mandate of Senator Nenadi Usman as the factional National Chairman.
Senator Darlington Nwokocha also retains his position as the interim National Secretary, alongside other appointees.
This resolution empowers Senator Usman to continue leading the faction’s Interim National Working Committee (INWC).
The resolutions were reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party, held on Friday in Abuja. The meeting was attended by statutory members of the NEC, the Board of Trustees (BoT), as well as key leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). Read here.