&w=64&q=75)
The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Tuesday, August 27, as the party's National Chairman, Julius Abure, publicly warned Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to refrain from meddling in party affairs and concentrate on governing his state.
The sharp rebuke came during a press conference in Abuja, where Abure expressed growing frustration with Otti's recent actions.
At the heart of the conflict is Otti's plan to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on August 31 to dissolve the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council, and Ward Executive Council.
According to Otti, these councils had expired, and new leadership was required.
Abure's warning to Otti
However, Abure firmly rejected this notion, insisting that Otti had overstepped his boundaries.
"The National Working Committee also notes that assuming without conceding that the tenure of the current NWC has even expired, we must state clearly that it is not the responsibility of Dr Alex Otti, as the governor of Abia State, to convene an NEC meeting to set up a caretaker committee. It is still the responsibility of the national chairman and the national secretary of the party to convene such a meeting," Abure asserted, as reported by Punch.
READ ALSO: NLC sacks Abure-led Labour Party leadership
Abure's chairmanship and INEC's linkage
The LP chairman further clarified that any decision regarding the tenure of the party's leadership falls under the jurisdiction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not an individual governor.
Abure urged Otti to "concentrate on governance and allow us to handle party affairs," signalling that the party's leadership would not tolerate interference from any of its members, regardless of their position.
To underscore his point, Abure announced that the National Working Committee had established a disciplinary committee to sanction members who act against the party's interests.
"The national leadership states clearly that it will not hesitate to discipline any member who is not ready to obey the party constitution and the lawful directives of the leadership," he said.
According to Abure, the Labour Party prides itself on being a platform for the general populace, not a vehicle for the ambitions of any one individual.
"The Labour Party is different from other political parties in that it is not controlled by one man, woman, or leader; neither is it a party that can be dominated by one person," he emphasised.
READ ALSO: Peter Obi denies endorsing Abure-led NWC, gives reason for visiting LP HQ
Issues of party leadership & Abure's chairmanship
Abure suggested that Otti's actions were fueled by a misinterpretation of INEC's stance on the party's leadership.
He clarified that, contrary to Otti's claims, there had been no formal objection from INEC regarding the tenure of the current leadership.
Abure pointed out that a Federal High Court in Abuja had validated the party's National Convention held on March 27, and any speculation about expired tenures was "mischievous" and aimed at destabilising the party.
"Therefore, for any person(s), group, or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party," Abure stated, urging all party members to respect the ongoing legal processes and maintain the status quo until the courts decide otherwise.