***Calls on IGP to investigate Obi, Otti for alleged Felony;
The ongoing crises within the Labour Party (LP) have escalated as Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, who claims to be the National Publicity Secretary, has charged the Inspector General of Police to investigate Mr. Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti for alleged impersonation and felony.
Arabambi’s appeal to the IGP came after Governor Otti announced plans for a stakeholders’ meeting, despite warnings from the National Working Committee (NWC) during an earlier emergency meeting to refrain from interfering in the party’s affairs.
Sources indicated that the meeting, convened by Governor Otti and scheduled for September 4 at the Government House in Umuahia, Abia State, is intended to address internal party issues, including allegations of corruption and concerns about the tenure of NWC members.
The proposed meeting is expected to include prominent figures such as Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, and members of the National Working Committee. According to a circular, attendees will also include representatives from the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and several former and current lawmakers, among others.
However, Arabambi has condemned the planned meeting, labeling it unconstitutional and accusing Obi and Otti of falsely representing themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary.
He argued that the positions are not vacant and that their actions amount to criminal impersonation, a crime under Section 484 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act.
Arabambi gave Obi and Otti a 72-hour ultimatum to cancel the meeting, warning that failure to comply will result in a formal petition to law enforcement authorities, accusing them of fraud, impersonation, and conduct likely to breach public peace.
He described their actions as unconstitutional, irresponsible, and a national embarrassment, urging them to familiarize themselves with the Labour Party’s constitution.
This latest development follows a recent call from former National Treasurer Oluchi Okpara, who urged party leaders to convene an emergency meeting to prevent further internal strife. Okpara’s concerns were heightened by a response from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which indicated that it did not monitor the LP Convention in Nnewi, thereby rendering the actions of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, whose tenure supposedly ended on June 9, 2024, null and void.
She has called on elected party members, including Governor Otti, to come together to ensure the survival of the party by organizing a NEC meeting to plan for an inclusive convention.