Abia State Governor and Labour Party (LP) national leader, Dr. Alex Otti, has drawn a firm line for the sacked factional chairman, Julius Abure, signaling that reconciliation will only happen under the authority of the Nenadi Usman-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC).
The declaration comes weeks after the Federal High Court, Abuja, removed Abure from office on January 21, a ruling swiftly implemented by INEC, which delisted Abure’s executives and recognised Nenadi Usman’s faction.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday night, Otti sent a clear message: the days of parallel leadership in the Labour Party are over.
“Once they are willing to abide by the rules of the party, we would be happy to receive them,” he said, urging Abure and his supporters to “sheath their swords” and rejoin through due process.
The governor’s remarks followed a meeting of the expanded National Working Committee, held at the Abia State Governor’s Lodge and attended by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the party’s Board of Trustees.
The gathering marked the beginning of the Labour Party’s post-courtroom reset, aimed at rebuilding structures paralysed by months of legal battles. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that political parties must strictly follow their constitutions in resolving internal disputes, a decision that invalidated actions taken outside due process.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court cited the apex court ruling to confirm Nenadi Usman as the valid interim leader, clearing the way for INEC’s update of party records. Otti described the recognition as a turning point:
“For the first time in months, the party can now move forward,” he said.
The meeting approved plans for Ward, State, and Zonal Congresses ahead of a national convention and announced a nationwide membership revalidation and registration exercise starting in March.
Acknowledging the political cost of the crisis, Otti confirmed the party would miss the forthcoming FCT council elections due to past court disputes that froze its operations.
He also addressed the defection of Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying Obi personally informed him of the move after consulting with stakeholders. While wishing Obi well, Otti made it clear that Labour Party would not pursue mergers or alliances, insisting:
“The Labour Party itself is a coalition—a coalition of workers and progressive Nigerians. We have no plans to join any other coalition.”
Otti further lamented defections among some lawmakers in the National and State Assemblies, describing them as casualties of internal turbulence.
To prevent further fragmentation, he announced the formation of a reconciliation committee to engage members willing to return and praised Nenadi Usman and the Interim NWC for holding the party together during its most turbulent period.
The Labour Party, Otti said, is now poised for a political comeback ahead of the 2027 elections, united under a single leadership.
Otti Sets Conditions for Abure as Labour Party Moves to Rebuild
