The Labour Party, under Julius Abure’s leadership, has decided to revoke the automatic ticket given to presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti for the 2027 election.
The decision, announced following the Monday National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, declared that all its tickets, ranging from the presidency to the House of Assemblies, are now open to all qualified Nigerians.
This move follows a gathering in Umuahia, Abia State, where Labour Party leaders, including Obi and Otti, and some elected Senators and House of Representatives members appointed a temporary 29-member caretaker committee to lead the party.
The caretaker committee, chaired by former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman, has been tasked with overseeing the election of new leadership within 90 days.
However, in a statement signed by Abure and National Secretary Umar Ibrahim, the NEC nullified the decision made at Otti’s stakeholders meeting in Umuahia.
The NEC, under Abure’s leadership, emphasised that there was no leadership vacuum after holding its National Convention on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, Anambra State, per the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The NEC urged INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu to refrain from supporting the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, in his actions that may harm the party.
Additionally, the NEC refuted Otti’s claims regarding the expiration of the party officers’ tenure, urging members and the public to disregard the Umuahia meeting and its outcomes.
The NEC reaffirmed its confidence in the Abure-led National Working Committee and urged all party members to continue respecting the leadership and obeying its lawful directives.
It also authorised the NWC to fill vacant positions. It approved the conduct of the State, Local Government, and Ward Congress as scheduled by the National Working Committee in accordance with the party’s Constitution and other applicable laws.
Furthermore, the NEC approved the formation of a disciplinary committee as outlined in the Constitution and reviewed certain disciplinary actions against members in a spirit of reconciliation.