The Julius Abure-led Labour Party has disowned the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held by some stakeholders on Friday, describing the gathering as illegal, unconstitutional, and of no consequence.
In a statement issued in Abuja and titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities,” the factional National Secretary of the LP, Umar Farouk, warned Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to desist from spending state funds on partisan activities.
Farouk reiterated that only the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party have the constitutional authority to summon a NEC meeting. He said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to yet another illegal gathering of some suspended members of the party parading themselves as members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“Ordinarily, we didn’t think we should make any comment as regards this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome are inconsequential, null and void.”
The statement was in response to Governor Otti’s call for Julius Abure, factional leader Lamidi Apapa, and other party members to tender a formal apology as a condition for reconciliation. Otti made this demand during the inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
Citing Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii) of the LP constitution, Farouk argued that the Umuahia NEC meeting lacked legitimacy. He described it as a direct violation of the party’s internal procedures and declared that no leadership vacancy exists until 2028.
He also referenced the Supreme Court ruling of April 4, 2025, which directed that all intra-party disputes be resolved internally.
Farouk accused Governor Otti of being out of touch with current realities, stating, “Dr. Otti and his co-travellers must know by now that the train of the party has moved on and the party is focused ahead of the 2027 general election with or without them.”
The Labour Party urged members to ignore the outcome of the Umuahia meeting and advised Otti to focus on governance. “We also urge the governor to channel Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows,” the statement concluded.
