The Labour Party leadership led by Julius Abure faction has threatened to sanction the only governor produced by the party in the 2023 general election, Alex Otti for anti-party activities.
The party also cautioned its former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Obi not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace, unity, and integrity of the party.
The National Executive Committee of the party presided over by Abure who was sacked by the Supreme Court ruling of Friday, noted that it would not hesitate to issue stiffer penalties if Obi was found culpable.
The party took the decisions during its NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday.
The NEC accused Otti of plotting to cripple the party before jumping ship to contest the 2027 governorship election.
It described the NEC meeting of the caretaker committee called by Obi and Otti for Wednesday as illegal.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Abure (National Chairman) and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim (National Secretary), the party said: “NEC in session notes the various anti-party activities of Gov. Alex Otti, including calling of unauthorised Stakeholders meeting and usurping the powers of NEC. He also conducted LGA Election using another Political Party.
“The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC schedule to hold on Wednesday. The leadership of the Labour Party is also aware of the Governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 Governorship Election.
“His anti-party activities is unbecoming of highly respected personality and can no longer be acceptable, NEC stated that it will not hesitate to discipline him in line with Article 19 of the Party’s Constitution.
“NEC in session in exercise of its duties, hereby caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity, and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable”
The party insisted that the Supreme Court ruling didn’t sack the National Working Committee led by Abure.
Instead, the NEC of the party reaffirmed the Nnewi National Convention held on the 27th of March 2024 that produced the current NWC members under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure.
It condemned the activities of the Caretaker Committee “illegally established by Alex Otti and Peter Obi in a so-called Stakeholders meeting held on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia.”
“The NEC in session believes very strongly that the present National Working Committee will lead the party in subsequent elections to victory and therefore reimpose their confidence in the NWC,” the party said.
The party also stripped its House of Representatives Caucus leader, Victor Ogene of his position and appointed Barrister Ben Etanabene as the Caucus Leader in the House.
“NEC in session reviewed the activities of the House of Representatives Caucus leader, Honourable Victor Adam Ogene and wishes to note as follow: That the voice of the current leadership of the party is not being heard in the hallowed lower chambers; that there is a lack of cohesion amongst our members in the House; that the leadership appears to be compromised; and that the ideology and programs of the party are not well represented.
“NEC in session, as result of the aforementioned, decided to relieve Honourable Ogene of that leadership role for dereliction of duty. Consequently Hon. Barrister Ben Etanabene has been appointed by the NEC in session as the Labour Party’s Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives. NEC mandated the NWC to communicate the decision to relevant authorities.
“He is to hand over all the party’s properties in his possession, particularly all the financial contributions made so far by other Labour Party lawmakers which are in his possession to the party, and render proper account to the party with immediate effect.
“The party will go to any length to retrieve all its belongings, including monies that belong to it which Hon. Ogene is holding tight too.”
