The Labour Party (LP) has announced that there will be no automatic ticket for Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State in the 2027 presidential and governorship elections. This decision was made during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.
According to the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Innocent Okeke, “All tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.” This means that Obi and Otti will have to contest for their desired positions alongside other qualified candidates.
The NEC meeting also addressed the recent stakeholder meeting convened by Otti in Umuahia, Abia State, where the National Working Committee, National Executive Council, State Council, Local Government, and Ward Executives of the party were dissolved and replaced with a Caretaker Committee. Okeke stated that Otti did not have the power to convene such a meeting, as it is vested in the national secretary with the approval of the national chairman.
The Labour Party Constitution provides for the removal of members of the National Working Committee, State Executive Committee, and other officials, Okeke said. He added that the NEC has granted the National Working Committee powers to take disciplinary action against any member who brings the party to disrepute.
Okeke called on all members of the party, supporters, and the general public to disregard Otti’s meeting and its outcome. He expressed confidence in the leadership of the Julius Abure-led NWC and urged all party members to respect the leadership and obey its lawful directives.
In a speech titled “The Beautiful Ones are not Yet Born in Nigeria,” Abure described Otti’s action as a show of betrayal. He stated that the Labour Party has always been a beacon of hope for the oppressed, marginalized, and voiceless in Nigeria, and that Otti’s actions work to destabilize the party from within.
Abure emphasized that the party’s mandate is to unite the country, not divide it. He expressed disappointment that individuals who have benefitted from the trust and support of the party now work to destabilize it.
The Labour Party has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding its constitution and ensuring that all members adhere to its principles and directives.
