Labour Party Crisis Deepens as Abia Gov Otti Shuns Abure, Summons Stakeholders’ Meeting

The Labour Party crisis appears to have no end as Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced a stakeholders’ meeting.

The announcement was made despite warnings from National Chairman, Julius Abure, to refrain from interfering in party affairs.

The stakeholders’ meeting is scheduled for September 4 at the Government House in Umuahia, Abia State.

The proposed meeting will have Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, and members of the National Working Committee in attendance.

The circular partly read, “Three representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress who are members of the National Executive Council of the Party, three representatives of the Trade Union Congress who are members of the National Executive Council of Labour Party, Vice Presidential candidate of the 2023 election will be attending.

“Also invited are Abia deputy governor, all serving and former Senators who are members of the party, all serving and former members of the House of Representatives, serving members of Houses of Assembly of States, five members of the Abure-led National Working Committee viz: National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Secretary, Woman Leader and Youth Leader, Gubernatorial candidates of Edo and Ondo states.

“The following former governorship candidates representing the six geo-political zones will attend: Ken Pela (Delta State – South West), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Lagos State – South South), Chijioke Edeoga (Enugu State – South East), Jonathan Asake (Kaduna state – North West), Patrick Dakum (Plateau State – North Central), Keftin Amuga (Gombe State – North East).”

However, it remains unclear whether Abure and NWC members will attend, given their public spat with Otti.

Recall that Otti, last week, announced plans to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to dissolve party executives at various levels, citing expired tenures.

Abure swiftly responded, warning Otti to focus on governance and refrain from meddling in party affairs.