Labour Party Slams Peter Obi, Gov. Alex Otti Over ‘Illegal’ NEC Meeting, Accuses Them of Plot to Hijack Party Structure

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The leadership of the Labour Party has come out strongly against former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of convening an “illegal” National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja with the aim of forcefully taking control of the party’s leadership.

In a statement signed by the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the party described the NEC meeting held on Wednesday as a “desperate and unconstitutional” move to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and destabilize the party’s structure.

The statement alleges that Obi, alongside Governor Otti and other allies, stormed the INEC headquarters in Abuja shortly after the meeting, in what the party labeled a brazen attempt to “pressure the electoral body into taking illegal action” against the current leadership headed by National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure.

“If really the Supreme Court decision is in their favour, why are they rushing to INEC to influence the Commission to do the wrong thing?” the statement queried, describing the visit as a clear sign of desperation.

The party also claimed that Obi and Otti offered Abure a so-called “soft landing” by proposing he assume the position of Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), but emphasized that leadership roles are not for negotiation or allocation.

“It is not about offering the BoT to the National Chairman that matters… it is about the supremacy of the organs of the party and doing things right,” the party said.

Citing Article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution, the statement argued that only the National Secretary, with the consent of the National Chairman, can legally convene a NEC meeting. It condemned the Abuja gathering as a violation of this provision and declared the outcome “null and void.”

The leadership further took issue with the composition of attendees at the meeting, which reportedly included former governorship candidates, caretaker committee members, and other individuals not recognized by the party’s constitution.

“There is nowhere in the party constitution where a body such as the National Caretaker Committee is mentioned,” the statement noted, adding that the involvement of Peter Obi and Gov. Otti holds no constitutional weight to legitimize the gathering.

The statement also referenced recent threats by political union leaders, including Comrade Joe Ajaero of the NLC, who vowed to forcibly picket Labour Party offices across the country. The party warned that any move to forcefully take over leadership would amount to “self-help,” which it said was both illegal and unproductive.

Urging calm and respect for the rule of law, the party reiterated its commitment to internal democracy and constitutional procedures.

“We call on our members and the general public to disregard the meeting and its outcome,” the statement concluded, warning that the actions of Obi and Otti could have broader implications for the integrity of the party and the country’s democratic process.

As the internal crisis within the Labour Party deepens, political observers are watching closely to see how the dispute will be resolved—and what it means for the future of one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition parties.