The Labour Party has dismissed what it described as another illegal gathering by suspended members of the party, accusing Governor Alex Otti of Abia State of spearheading a “jamboree” with no legal or constitutional standing.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the party warned members and the public to disregard the meeting and its outcome, insisting that the gathering lacks legitimacy.
“We didn’t think we should comment on this perennial jamboree since the meeting and its outcome is inconsequential, null, and void,” Ibrahim said in the statement.
The party cited its constitution, particularly Articles 14(4)(b) and 13(B)(xii), as clearly defining who has the authority to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. “Only the National Secretary, in consultation with the National Chairman, can convene such a meeting. By those provisions, every meeting convened by the suspended Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and the so-called Caretaker Committee is unconstitutional and of no effect,” Ibrahim added.
The party also referenced a recent Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which affirmed the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure and emphasized the supremacy of internal party processes.
“There has never been any vacancy in the leadership of the Labour Party and there will not be until 2028,” the party said, reaffirming its support for the Abure-led national executive.
Taking a swipe at Governor Otti, the statement noted that “the train of the party has moved on” and claimed that the governor has been politically abandoned. “Governor Otti is probably not aware that his flanks have been exposed. Majority of his combatants and leaders have deserted him and moved on. He is probably living in ignorance and in the past.”
The party also urged Governor Otti to focus on governance in Abia State rather than involving the state’s resources in internal party matters.
“We urge the governor to channel the Abia State resources to providing basic infrastructure for the good people of the state rather than wasting resources chasing shadows,” the statement read.
The statement ended with a call to party members to ignore the meeting’s outcome and focus on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
