Fresh Crisis Brews In LP As NWC Opposes Otti’s Push For Leadership Change

A new conflict is brewing within the Labour Party as Abia State Governor, Alex Otti’s attempt to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to dissolve the current party leadership has encountered resistance.

Governor Otti recently met with the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, expressing his intention to hold a NEC meeting on Saturday, August 31, arguing that the current leadership’s tenure had long expired.

However, the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Abure, countered the governor’s move in a meeting held on Tuesday, declaring that there is no “vacuum in the leadership of the party.”

The NWC emphasized that the tenure of the party’s executives was set to expire in June 2024 and that a National Convention had already taken place on March 27, 2024, to renew the leadership.

In an official statement, the party questioned Governor Otti’s motives, noting that his Deputy had represented him at the Nnewi convention in Anambra State, where the leadership was reaffirmed.

The statement further emphasized that the Labour Party is not controlled by any single individual, distinguishing it from other political parties.

The party’s structure and ideology, according to the NWC, were crucial in its success during the 2023 general elections and allowed figures like Dr. Alex Otti to succeed after previous attempts with other parties.

The party, affirming that there is no leadership crisis, has announced the creation of a disciplinary committee led by Barrister Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Adviser.

This decision was revealed in a communiqué issued following a meeting of the National Working Committee held on August 26 at the Labour Party’s National Headquarters in Abuja.

The communique read in part, “The meeting was called at the instance of the National Chairman of the Party to brief members of the NWC on his recent meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti during which the governor stated his intention to convene a National Executive Meeting (NEC) meeting on Saturday August 31st in order to dissolve the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council and Ward Executive Council on the purported ground that the tenures of the executives have expired.

“His (Otti’s) argument was premised allegedly by INEC that the current executive’s tenures have expired.”

The NWC consequently noted that “the national leadership hereby states unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our Party.

“Conscious of the fact that the tenure of the executives was to last till June 2024, the National Convention of the Party was held on March 27, 2024, at Nnewi, Anambra State at which the Governor of Abia State was ably represented by his deputy governor who also doubled as the Chairman of the Convention Committee.

“It must be noted that most of the government functionaries from Abia State including the Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Chief of Staff and indeed all the Labour Party State Assembly members led by the Speaker of the House, Senior Special Assistants and other aides of the governor, were present at that Convention.

“It must be stressed that under the Laws of the land which include the following: the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Labour Party Constitution and indeed, all other laws of the land were adhered to in convening that Convention.

“Article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution provides that it is only the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party who can convene the meetings of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee and National Convention or any other national meeting of the Party.”

They argued that “in the exercise of that power therefore, on the 20th of December, 2023, the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party issued notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the convening of the National Convention of the Party that was scheduled to hold in March 2024.

“It must be noted that Section 82(1) of 2022 Electoral Act provides as follow ‘Every registered Political Party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act’.”

The executives in communique conveying their position further argued that, “It was in fulfilment of this provision that the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party issued notice to INEC on the 4th of December 2023.

“When it became apparent for logistics reasons that the Convention would be held at the earlier venue, another notice for change of venue was issued to INEC on the 14th of March, 2024.

“Again, another notice for a change of venue was issued on the 20th and 21st of March 2024. It is therefore clear that the Party has fulfilled its obligation under the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Party.”

The communique further read, “Section 82(2) of the Electoral Act provides that: ‘The Commission may, with or without prior notice to the political party attend and observe any convention, congress, conference or meeting which is convened by a political party for the purpose of (a)electing members of its executive committees or other governing bodies; (b)nominating candidates for an election at any level; and (c) approving a merger with any other registered political party.”

The party said “To this extent, it is safe to conclude that the Labour Party under this leadership has complied with the provision of the Electoral Act, Constitution of Nigeria and the Labour Party Constitution in convening the National Convention of the Party that was held at Nnewi, Anambra State on the 27th of March, 2024.

“Therefore, for any person(s), group or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired, is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to put the Party in comatose.”

It said the party “has fulfilled its obligation to convene its Convention. Therefore, for any person(s) or agency to begin to instigate members of the Party from the back door that the tenures of the executives have expired, is tantamount to being unprofessional and mischievous.

“We must also state that government business is not conducted verbally. It is done in official communication through writings and correspondences. As we speak, there is no communication whatsoever from INEC to the Party as regards any objection to the conduct of that Convention.

“In Administrative Law, once a communication has been made to a government agency and there is no response, it deemed to mean that those communications and correspondences have been accepted.

“Indeed, INEC has been relating closely and clearly with the leadership of the Labour Party until recently when the party was denied invitation to attend the third quarterly consultative meeting of Political Parties.

“The National Working Committee notes that the National Convention of the Party held on the 27th of March 2024 has been validated by a court of competent jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sitting in Abuja on the 16th day of June, 2024 when it held that issues of leadership, conduct of congresses and convention are internal affairs of a political party.

“It is our view that for anybody to hold the opinion that there is a vacuum in the leadership of the Party, is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to cause panic, chaos and to disrupt the smooth working of our Party.

“The National Working Committee of the Labour Party urges all members to play by the rules, pay respect to the national leadership of the Party and respect the Party constitution. All Party members are under the obligation to respect the integrity and dignity of the Party and its leadership.”