Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, has announced that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election is no longer reserved for its former candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure confirmed that all party tickets, including the presidency, would now be available to all eligible members.
During the press briefing, Abure addressed the review of the party’s prior decision to reserve key political positions for specific candidates. “NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti, respectively. Consequently, all party tickets from the Presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians,” Abure said.
He further emphasized that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, would not automatically receive the Labour Party’s governorship ticket for a second term. The party’s ticket for the Abia governorship will also be contested by other aspirants, Abure explained.
Additionally, Abure dismissed Governor Otti’s role in convening a recent stakeholders’ meeting, which led to the appointment of a caretaker committee led by former Senator Nenadi Usman. He clarified that Otti lacked the constitutional authority to call such a meeting, citing Article 14 (4) (B) of the party’s constitution.
“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives the power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” Abure stated.
The Labour Party chairman also referenced the Electoral Act of 2022, which mandates that political parties give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days’ notice before holding meetings aimed at electing executive committee members or nominating candidates for elective offices.
Abure warned that no individual, including governors, could unilaterally dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC) or interfere with the party’s leadership.
He stated, “No governor that we gave ticket can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how highly placed, will come and with a fiat, dissolve the NWC, dissolve state councils, or dissolve LG councils; even a military government would not do that.
“The mandate given to me and my team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention of the party held on the 27th day of March 2024, will be defended.
“We are at a critical moment in the life of our party. Recent events have shown that those who should stand with us in the fight for a better restructured, organized and united party have chosen a different path.
“A path not of unity, but of division. I speak, of course, of the illegal gathering that took place in Abia State, an attempt to create a rift within our party, led by none other than His Excellency Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti. This meeting, held without the authority or consent of the National Executive Council, sought to install a so-called ‘new leadership’.
“Let me be clear: this action was not just illegal. It was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for. A reward for loyalty with ingratitude, a reward for support with insubordination.”
