LP Crisis: Abure faction slams Otti over alleged disrespect, seeks Tinubu’s intervention
by Adenle Ahmed Abiola · The Eagle OnlineThe Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the party’s ongoing internal crisis by restraining Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, whom they accuse of threatening the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure.
The appeal was made by the Factional National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Farouk claimed that Governor Otti recently called for the arrest of Abure, an action he described as an overreach and a blatant disregard for party authority.
“We are not only condemning this despicable action of the governor, who was recently suspended by the party, but are also seeking the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to persuade the governor from further threats to our party and its leadership,” Farouk stated.
He accused Otti of orchestrating multiple threats against party leaders over the past few months, highlighting instances where party officials were allegedly detained on the governor’s orders.
“In the last few months, His Excellency, Dr. Otti, ordered the arrest and detention of our National Vice Chairman, Comrade Ceekay Igara, the State Chairman, Prince Ndubeze, and other party leaders for holding a lawful meeting in Aba, Abia State,” Farouk explained.
He further alleged that during a meeting held at Transcorp, Abuja, Otti made threatening remarks against Abure and the National Working Committee (NWC), vowing to bring about a “doomsday” for the party’s leadership.
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The Abure-led faction expressed disbelief at Otti’s recent media statements, where he reportedly described Abure as a “clown in search of a crown.”
Reacting, Farouk stated, “As of 2022, when Governor Otti joined the Labour Party after being rejected by virtually every other political party, Abure was already the National Chairman—a king who made Otti what he is today. Otti, who has not added value to the party that made him, is actually the clown.”
He further accused Otti of abandoning the party’s leadership after winning the governorship election, adding that the governor failed to support NWC members who attended his inauguration ceremony, calling it a “one chance” experience.
The faction went on to allege that Otti’s actions are part of a broader scheme to “stifle life out of the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general election” in order to pave the way for what it described as his “already known preferred destination.”
Speaking on the Supreme Court judgment, Farouk clarified that the court did not remove Abure as the National Chairman nor hand over control of the party to Otti and his supporters.
He reiterated that the Supreme Court ruled that party leadership matters are internal affairs and are “not justiciable.”
“The Supreme Court’s position was clear: matters of leadership within a political party are internal and cannot be determined by any court.
“Otti and his allies have no legal grounds to lay claim to the party’s leadership,” Farouk asserted.
In conclusion, the Abure faction appealed to President Tinubu to rein in Governor Otti to prevent what they described as “tyranny in a democratic system.”
They also called on well-meaning Nigerians to support their cause in preserving the party’s leadership and safeguarding its future ahead of the 2027 elections.
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