Abure: Peter Obi and Otti Won’t Receive Automatic Party Tickets in 2027

The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) deepened on Monday when the Julius Abure-led faction announced the withdrawal of the previously guaranteed presidential ticket for former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The faction also revoked the automatic second-term ticket that was initially reserved for Alex Otti, the party’s only sitting governor.

During a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, the Abure faction declared that all party tickets for the 2027 elections would now be open to contest by all candidates. The meeting seemed to be a reaction to a recent stakeholders’ meeting attended by Obi, Otti, and LP lawmakers, where a 29-member caretaker committee, led by former finance minister Nenadi Usman, was appointed to oversee the party for 90 days and organize elections for new leadership.

The Abure faction rejected the decisions made at the Otti-led stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, claiming there was no leadership vacuum in the party that would justify appointing an interim committee. They stated that the party had already held its National Convention on March 27, 2024, in Nnewi, in compliance with its constitution and Nigerian electoral laws.

In a communiqué signed by Abure and National Secretary Umar Ibrahim, the faction also criticized the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of enabling Governor Otti to destabilize the party.

The Abure-led NEC urged party members and the public to disregard the outcomes of the Otti-led stakeholders’ meeting, affirming confidence in the existing leadership. They also delegated authority to fill any vacant positions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and approved the organization of state, local government, and ward congresses as needed.

In a spirit of reconciliation, the NEC announced it would review disciplinary actions against some members and form a disciplinary committee as outlined in the party’s constitution.