Obi, Otti Call Expanded LP Stakeholders’ Parley on September 4 over Leadership Crisis

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023election, Peter Obi and the only elected governor of the party, Alex Otti of Abia State, have summoned an expanded stakeholders meeting of the party for September 4 over the lingering leadership crisis.

The expanded stakeholders meeting according to a statement by Obi and Otti, is to holder in Umuahia, Abia State.

Though the agenda of the meeting was not stated, it is not unconnected to the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party since its March 29 national conventions that was boycotted by major stakeholders.

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress were contending the leadership of the party with the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party.

Following the non-invitation of Labour party to its official assignments by the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Otti had asked the Abure-led party to summon a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) for August 31 to discuss the problems affecting the party.

But the Abure leadership kicked against the idea, claiming that there was no need for such as the present executive committee headed by him was properly constituted.

Rather, he set up a disciplinary committee and threatened to discipline erring members. He claimed that INEC, the regulatory body of political parties, had not written to reject the national convention of the party that took place in March 29.

Last month, INEC, reacting to a letter dated July 18 2024, by the acting National Secretary of INEC Harilu Aminu and addressed to  Messer Steve Adehi (SAN) of Number I, Dutsima Close Area 1, Garki Abuja, said the commission did not monitor the Nnewi convention of the party.

It was learnt that Steve Adehi, SAN, had written to INEC to obtain the true status of the Julius Abure-led party’s national convention and also requested for the certified true copy of the Labour Party domiciled in INEC.

In response to the letter, the acting National Secretary of INEC in a letter dated July 18 2024 said, “The Commission has received your request for Certified True Copy (CTC)of the monitored report of Labour Party Convention at Nnewi, Anambra State held on the 27 day of March,2024,and the Labour Party Constitution.

“The Certified True Copy of the Labour Party Constitution has been forwarded to your firm earlier.

“Regrettably the Commission did not monitor the Labour Party Convention of 27 March,2024 and cannot therefore report on the convention.

Harilu  Aminu, Ag. Secretary to the Commission,” the INEC letter to Steve Adehi stated.

It was in view of this that the duo of Obi and Otti had summoned an expanded stakeholders meeting to resolve the lingering crisis in the party.

According to the statement, those invited to the expanded meeting included “three representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress, who are members of the National Executive Council of the Party. 

“Three Representatives of the Trade Union Congress who are members of the National Executive Council of Labour Party. The Vice Presidential candidate of the 2023 election, the Deputy Governor of  Abia State.

“All serving and former Senators who are members of the party. All serving and former members of the House of Representatives who are members of the party.

“All serving  members of Houses of Assembly of States, members of the Abure-led National Working Committee  of  National Chairman, and Deputy.”