Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the two factional leaders of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa, to issue formal letters of apology as a precondition for their reintegration into the party.
Governor Otti made the appeal on Friday during the inauguration of Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the party, respectively.
“We are calling on aggrieved members of the Labour Party, including Julius Abure, to reconcile with the party,” Otti said. “We are not interested in expelling anyone. All we ask is that they write a letter of apology so the interim leadership can recall them, and we can move forward together.”
However, Abure’s faction has strongly rejected the inauguration, dismissing the gathering as illegal, unconstitutional, and of no consequence. The faction also criticized Governor Otti for allegedly misusing state resources on what it termed “trivialities.”
In a statement titled “Illegal NEC: Otti advised not to use Abia State resources on trivialities,” Labour Party’s factional National Secretary, Umar Farouk, maintained that only the constitutionally recognized National Chairman and Secretary have the authority to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is aware of yet another illegal gathering by some suspended members posing as the party’s NEC,” Farouk said. “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t respond to such a perennial jamboree, but it’s important to state that the meeting and its resolutions are null, void, and without effect.”
Quoting Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii) of the party’s constitution, Farouk argued that the NEC meeting held in Umuahia was illegitimate and violated internal protocols. He insisted that the so-called caretaker committee established at the meeting lacked any constitutional basis.
“There has never been a leadership vacuum in the Labour Party, and none is anticipated until 2028,” he added.
Farouk also referenced the April 4, 2025 Supreme Court ruling, which emphasized that internal party disputes must be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He accused Governor Otti of being disconnected from current developments within the party, claiming that many of the governor’s former allies had already distanced themselves from his actions.
“Otti and his associates must realize that the party has moved on with or without them. Most of those who once stood with him have since moved on. He appears to be living in the past,” Farouk stated.
As the Labour Party grapples with deepening internal divisions, the clash between opposing factions continues to cast uncertainty over its direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
