|By Chinwendu Nwani
The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) escalated on Monday as the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) flatly rejected reconciliation efforts initiated by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, dismissing the move as insincere and poorly timed.
The Abure faction insisted that the leadership tussle within the party remains unresolved, stressing that the matter is still before the courts and that legal processes have not been fully exhausted.
Reacting to Otti’s call for unity, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, accused the governor of playing a major role in igniting the crisis now threatening the party’s cohesion. He said the reconciliation proposal lacked credibility and questioned the urgency behind it.
According to Ifoh, the faction has no interest in engaging with any peace move championed by Governor Otti, whom he described as largely responsible for the current turmoil within the party.
He further argued that the reconciliation call was premature, noting that the court ruling being celebrated by the opposing camp was merely a decision of a court of first instance.
Ifoh questioned why Otti could not wait for the outcome of the ongoing appeal before initiating reconciliation talks, describing the governor’s actions as hasty and politically motivated.
He maintained that the Abure-led leadership would ultimately prevail, dismissing the recent celebrations by rival factions as short-lived.
Describing the court outcome as a “pyrrhic victory,” Ifoh said Nigerians would soon see what he called the authentic leadership of the Labour Party, adding that the struggle for control of the party was far from over.
The firm rejection underscores the deepening divisions within the Labour Party, despite recent court rulings and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.
The Abure camp’s reaction came hours after Governor Otti publicly expressed concern over the exit of the party’s former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, describing his departure as a major setback for the party.
Otti spoke in Abuja at a meeting attended by members of the party’s Board of Trustees, leaders of the National Caretaker Committee, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The meeting followed INEC’s recognition of the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, a development earlier criticised by the Abure faction as rushed and prejudicial.
Addressing stakeholders, Otti said the new leadership was focused on healing internal rifts and restoring unity following its court victory. He disclosed plans to establish a reconciliation committee at a time to be advised by the interim National Working Committee.
The Abia governor appealed directly to the Abure-led faction to reconsider its stance and return to the party, provided they are willing to abide by the party’s rules.
Otti also announced that the Labour Party would not participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections and ruled out joining any broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He added that the Labour Party already represents a coalition of Nigerian workers and progressive citizens, stressing that it has no intention of aligning with other political coalitions.
Otti further commended INEC for implementing the Federal High Court judgment by replacing the Abure-led executive committee with the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee on its official portal.
