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Abure Led-LP accuses INEC of interference in its leadership tussle

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Julius Abure

The Labour Party has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is punishing the party for defending its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in the 2023 elections.

In a statement by the publicity secretary of the group, Obiora Ifoh, the party’s leadership claimed that INEC is supporting Obi and Otti’s attempt to seize control of the party through undemocratic means.

The crisis began when Obi and Otti convened a stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, where they appointed a 29-member caretaker committee to replace the current leadership. The party disputes the legitimacy of this move.

INEC filed a counter affidavit stating that the current executives’ tenure has expired, citing Electoral Act guidelines. However, the Labour Party maintains that their national convention in Nnewi on March 26, 2024, was valid and conducted in line with the Electoral Act and party constitution.
A statement by the Publicity secretary of the embattled Abure leaderahip said,

“We are shocked by INEC’s sudden interest in our internal affairs,” said a Labour Party spokesperson. “This is a clear case of interference and an attempt to destabilize our party.”

Recall that the contetious issue has to do with tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC), which expired on June 8, 2024. Since then, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deemed the leadership under the embattled Julius Abure to be illegal.
Stakeholders were shocked when Abure was asked to leave an INEC meeting, and the party was not invited to a subsequent meeting in preparation for the septembet and November elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively
This is the fallout from a controversial party convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, earlier where Abure allegedly manipulated the process to ensure his return. INEC refused to recognize the outcome of that convention.
Even the party’s only governor, Alex Otti, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, declined to attend the convention, having advised Abure to consult more widely beforehand. In an attempt to legitimize the convention, Abure and his group, after the disputed event in March 2023, endorsed Obi and Otti as the sole candidates for their respective offices in the next elections, despite their absence from the event.

Miffed by the impending crisis, Obi, in collaboration with Governor Otti, convened a stakeholders’ meeting to make necessary leadership changes. The Labour Party stakeholders gathered in Umuahia on September 4th and resolved to appoint Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the Chairman of a Caretaker Committee.

The immediate past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha from Abia Central, was appointed as the Secretary of the committee. The new leadership was tasked with rescuing the party from its current leadership crisis.
However, the Abure faction has since discredited the stakeholders meeting as it is not a k own nomenclature in the Party’s constitution

The statement reads,

“We the leadership of the Labour Party wish to bring to your notice the recent development in the party, particularly, the efforts by some of the leaders of the party including the former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and the Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti amongst others to annex power of the leadership of the party through subterranean means using the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as their launching pad.

“In the last few days, the media has been awashed with INEC’s counter affidavit to the effect that the tenure of the current executives has expired which was supposed to be a justification for the inglorious, purported Umuahia stakeholders meeting where a caretaker committee was produced.

“You will recall that His Excellencies, Peter Obi and Alex Otti a few weeks ago convened an illegal stakeholders meeting in Umuahia where they handpicked some of their cronies, a 29-member caretaker committee in the most undemocratic fashion as leaders of their faction of the party. “They subsequently wrote a letter to the INEC on September 6, 2024, informing the commission of the purported and non existent leadership crisis in the party.

“They hinged their decision on the fact that INEC informed them that the present National Working Committee of the party no longer have a valid tenure after June, 2024 and because INEC also did not monitor the Nnewi Convention of the party held on the 26th March, 2024, the commission has ceased from transacting business with the party.

“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
“However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman.

“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.
“They ought to know that Labour Party is going through this challenging times simply because of its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election.

“For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how Labour Party reduced its guards in accommodating some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties.
“Many of these men who are holding several political offices but suddenly turned warriors today, seeking the head of Julius Abure to be served on a platter, where rolling on the floors, begging for ticket. Some couldn’t even afford to pay for the nomination forms.

“Labour Party leadership went to the trenches with our Presidential Candidate, cascading through the nooks and crannies of Nigeria canvassing for votes.
“We went through the entire judicial hurdles, dared the principalities and powers. We were haunted, maligned and in some cases chased around by agents of the state because of our unflinching commitment and uncompromised standing with our Presidential candidate.
“The same LP leadership stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, snubbing all sorts of pressures, weathering the political and judicial storms to ensure that victory was achieved. Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.

“Every Nigerian alive today knows the ignoble role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed. It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the Commission against the Party leadership.
“For these leaders, there is no qualms to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party.

“We sincerely want to advise these our leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. In one breath, we demonised INEC, in another second, you are fraternizing with them.
“Is it not paradoxical that some of these leaders who were victims of INEC’s dereliction and mismanagement of the 2023 general election are now the ones quoting INEC, and joining forces with it, just to victimize the leadership of the Labour Party.
“Is it not seemingly absurd that the INEC you are embracing today and welcoming with open arms is the same INEC, which betrayed us during the last election. I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023? Let us not be fooled, my friends. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish.

“In as much as we are not saying that Abure or his executive members must remain in office ad-infinitum, however we would like to make it abundantly clear that this current National Working Committee is a product of a valid convention.
“It will take another convention in 2028 to enthrone a new executive. It is even surprising that some of the dramatis-personae who played key role in the success of the convention are now the ones leading the vanguard to exterminate the product of the convention.

“We want to put it on record that the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice J.K Omotosho had declared that the national convention of the party held in Nnewi on the March 26, 2024 is valid and one conducted in line with the requirement of both the 2022 Electoral Act and Labour Party Constitution.
“The Supreme Court in several judgements had also ruled that Issues regarding delegates at a National Convention or how the convention is planned and executed by a political party are outside the jurisdiction of any Court of the land being internal affairs of the – such a Party.
“Therefore, not even INEC can deregister Labour Party as being peddled by some of our leaders. INEC as an institution is bound to respect the laws of the land as clearly stated in Sections 82(1), 82(3) and 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Articles 7, 13(1), 13(1) (b) (ii), 13(1) (b) (viii) and 13 (1) (ix) of the party constitution and cannot afford to act irrational even if it wants to. ”

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“Where Did $3.23B Go?” Peter Obi Slams Mismanagement of Power Funds Amid Another Grid Failure

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Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s persistent electricity woes despite borrowing a staggering $3.23 billion in the last four years to address the sector’s challenges.

Speaking after reports of a power outage on Saturday, Obi lamented the recurring grid collapses that have left millions of Nigerians in darkness, disrupted businesses, and crippled critical infrastructure. Although the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) dismissed claims of a nationwide collapse, attributing the incident to two tripped transmission lines affecting parts of Lagos, Obi remains unconvinced.

The Labour Party leader described the power sector’s failings as a “recurring decimal,” highlighting that the national grid collapsed approximately 12 times in 2024 alone. “The untold setback and hardship it brought on households and businesses was immeasurable,” Obi said, questioning why Nigeria still struggles to produce just 4,500 megawatts of power after years of borrowing and investment.

“Instead of making significant progress, we’re witnessing recurrent failures. One wonders where all the funds borrowed for the power sector have gone,” he stated.

Obi linked the crisis to widespread corruption and a lack of commitment by leaders, urging the government to prioritize genuine development in 2025. He emphasized that without stable electricity, the nation’s economy, particularly households and small businesses, will continue to suffer.

This latest critique comes as Nigerians grapple with the realities of an unreliable power supply despite years of promises and investments in the energy sector. Obi’s call for transparency and accountability strikes a chord with many citizens who question why the lights are still out after billions of dollars have been spent.

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For better Nigeria, Obi says he is ready to pay the supreme prize

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Peter Obi

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has boldly declared his willingness to pay the supreme price for the betterment of Nigeria, signaling his unwavering commitment to the country’s progress despite facing relentless opposition.
Obi, who has faced intimidation, personal attacks, and sabotage since his foray into politics, stated that he remains resolute in pushing for the reforms that ordinary Nigerians desperately need, even if it comes at the cost of his own life.

In a deeply personal statement, Obi spoke to reporters following his New Year address to the nation. “It is extremely difficult to be in opposition in this country.
Everything is against you,” he lamented. “People don’t want to see you or associate with you because they fear government backlash. My businesses and personal life have been attacked, but I’ve made up my mind. If this is the end, so be it.”

Obi described Nigeria’s political environment as hostile to those who challenge the status quo, with efforts to silence dissent at all levels. Despite these harsh realities, Obi emphasized that the country’s future depends on courageous leadership willing to make personal sacrifices for the common good. “None of us is going to live forever. So we must build a better society for our children. And to build this, some of us will take the risk. That is part of what Dele and others are going through. Not just him, but everyone – even at the local and state levels.”

In his address, Obi turned his focus to Nigeria’s dire economic state, calling for urgent action to tackle inflation, food insecurity, and the country’s failing education and healthcare systems. He stressed that governance must focus on the tangible needs of the people, not just political power games. “Governance is not about what you say; it is about what people feel,” Obi stated, urging the government to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians over foreign trips and extravagant spending.

Obi also pointed to the deepening poverty and unemployment, noting his visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp where he witnessed the heartbreaking sight of children eager to attend school but unable to do so due to their circumstances. “People are dying because they can’t afford basic necessities,” Obi stated with a heavy heart. “I saw 1,500 kids yesterday who are not in school. What are we doing about it?”

Criticizing the government’s tax policies, Obi argued that it is illogical to tax an impoverished populace and struggling industries. “You cannot tax people living in extreme poverty or factories that have shut down,” Obi said, stressing that a productive economy is the foundation for generating revenue. “When people are gainfully employed, then you can talk about generating revenue. What we need now is to reflate the country and make it productive,” he added.

In closing, Obi reiterated his call for unity among all political forces, urging Nigerians who truly care about the nation’s future to collaborate in rebuilding the country. “We need everyone who means well to come together and rebuild this country,” he stated.

His final remarks were a solemn pledge to continue fighting for the welfare of the Nigerian people. “None of us will live forever. But we must build a nation where our children can thrive. If I have to pay the supreme price for that, so be it,” Obi declared.

Peter Obi’s speech highlighted his commitment to advocating for the voiceless and challenging the status quo. His resolve to make personal sacrifices, even in the face of adversity, sets a powerful tone for the year ahead as Nigerians continue to look for solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues.

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Presidency Fires Back at Peter Obi’s Dire New Year Predictions

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Peter Obi

In a fiery exchange of words, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser for Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has accused Labour Party’s Peter Obi of painting Nigeria’s future in bleak colors to score political points.
While Nigerians welcomed 2025 with optimism, Obi’s New Year message highlighted worsening poverty and insecurity, sparking sharp criticism from the presidency.

Onanuga dismissed Obi’s remarks as “misleading” and labeled him a “prophet of doom,” arguing that economic and political indicators point to recovery, not decline. However, Obi insisted that over 100 million Nigerians remain trapped in poverty, with the nation’s fortunes in reverse.
Onanuga accused Obi of name-calling and a campaign of calumny against Tinubu’s government, adding his New Year’s message where he claimed Nigeria’s political, economic, and security situation is worsening daily, was misleading.

On Thursday, Obi claimed that the government had not done enough to address the country’s “worsening” economic, political, and security challenges for nearly two years.

Obi said Nigerians were losing hope and insisted that Nigeria remained one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty.

According to the Labour Party chieftain, Nigeria’s challenges are visibly worsening with its fortunes in clear reverse, pointing out that current indices are indications of the country’s decline.
But Onanuga maintained that Obi’s comment is geared toward scoring cheap political points.
“Obi’s New Year message, in which he claimed that our dear country’s political, economic, and security situation is worsening daily, is misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points,” Onanuga said.

“This claim, at a time when all indicators show that our country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors, casts Obi, squarely, as Nigeria’s leading doomsayer.”

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