…there is no leadership vacuum in LP, Abure insists

Julius Abure, embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) on Monday threatened to sanction Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and Peter Obi, the party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

Abure handed down the threats on Monday at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting he summoned in Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, Abure decried the roles of the two foremost leaders of the party which he described as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

Recall that both Peter Obi and Governor Oti, had earlier issued a statement, summoning a meeting of the NEC and stakeholders of the party for Wednesday.

Abure insisted that “there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party.”

“The National Working Committee, NWC, under my chairmanship, remains the recognized and legitimate leadership body of our party.

“We shall not cede ground to illegitimate actors or unconstitutional contraptions posing as transition committees”, he added.

He noted that the “purported Labour Party Caretaker Committee emerged through unlawful, illegal, crooked, unconstitutional and mischievous means.

“As deposed to in a counter affidavit filed by INEC in Suit NO: A/212/24 in the High Court of Abia State, No notice was given to INEC for the 04/09/2024 so-called Stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia that produced the purported Caretaker Committee”, he said.

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He explained that Article 14(4)(b) of the Labour Party Constitution, the “National Secretary shall cause to be issued notices of meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Council.

“The National Working Committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman, INEC Regulations and Guidelines for political parties operations 2022 stipulates that notices of meetings to INEC shall be signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary.”

He also cited Article 13(B)(XII) of Labour Party constitution which he said mandates only the “National Executive Council to have powers to establish ad-hoc and standing committees of the party and appoint members of such committees.

“By the above provisions no meeting of Labour Party held in 04/09/2024, no Caretaker Committees was set up. Also there is no provisions for any Caretaker Committee in the Labour Party Constitution and no vacancy has ever occurred in the leadership of the party.

“As opined by the Apex court in this decision, the trite position is that a party is supreme over its affairs, the members and recognized organs of the party are being governed by authentic leadership elected by them on 27/03/2024.”

He therefore described the Caretaker Committee members as ” meddlesome interlopers and troublemakers whose only mission is to retard the progress of the party and are looking for collaborators.

“To our teeming members and steadfast supporters across Nigeria, we assure you that the Labour Party remains united and committed to the vision of delivering transformative leadership.

“Our mission is clear: to usher in good governance, ensure security for our citizens, drive economic development, provide jobs, and invest meaningfully in infrastructure. Should Nigerians entrust us with power, we are prepared to lead with integrity and purpose”, he completed.