Labour Party Chairman Rejects Unconstitutional Meeting Called by Abia Governor

The chairman of the Nigerian Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has rejected a meeting convened by Abia governor, Dr. Alex Otti, in Umuahia, calling it unconstitutional and a charade. Abure stated that the meeting lacked the authority to convene, citing provisions in the party’s constitution and electoral laws.

The meeting, which aimed to address a leadership crisis within the party, was described by Abure as mischievous and wasteful. “Government business is not transacted verbally, but through official communication and correspondences which are done in writing,” Abure said, challenging Otti to produce an official letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) justifying the meeting.

Abure questioned the legitimacy of the caretaker committee established by Otti, as it does not align with the party’s constitution. “We are shocked to note that the so-called chairman of the caretaker committee is not a registered member of the party,” Abure said, implying that the committee is an illegitimate entity.

Abure expressed concerns about the party’s leadership crisis and called on Otti to produce the official letter from INEC, adding that there was no vacuum in the party’s leadership. He cited Article 11 of the party’s constitution, which outlines four levels of party organisations – ward, local government area, state, and national.

The disputed meeting aimed to task the caretaker committee with rescuing the party from its current crisis. The committee has been given 90 days to complete its assignment, which includes organizing a convention to elect new leaders from the ward to the national level.