Abia State governor, Alex,m Otti said the factional Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Julius Abure, is aware that his reign is over.
LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Abure and his allies on one hand, and the caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman on the other.
The Usman committee is supported by Peter Obi, the party’s ex-presidential candidate, and Otti.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction to pronounce Abure Chairman of LP.
Since the verdict, there has been various interpretations of the apex court’s pronouncement, with all factions claiming victory.
Lamidi Apapa has also laid claim to the chairmanship of the party.
Speaking on television a programme, the Abia State governor reiterated that he would not leave LP despite the recent wave of defections from the opposition.
Otti said his party is not facing a leadership threat, adding that the apex court’s judgment removed Abure as national chairman and stripped him of authority over the party’s affairs.
He also said democracy does not require everyone to belong to the ruling party, referencing President Bola Tinubu’s journey to power.
“Governor Otti is not decamping and my party is not on shaky ground, everybody must not be in APC. This is democracy and President Tinubu held on to his AD, AC, ACN before becoming APC.
“If not, he would not be president today. Sometimes you have to also stand for something.
“Let me tell you. I was in PDP. And then from PDP, I went to APGA. I went to APC. I have been in APC. So that is not the issue.
“The issue is that the party that brought me to power is LP. And today, we have fought and retrieved it.
“When you go through the Supreme Court judgment, you will know that Abure is just masturbating. He is out.
“You can declare yourself the president of Nigeria today. But does that make you the president?” he asked.
When asked if he is certain about remaining in LP, Otti said political decisions are determined by prevailing conditions and the will of the people.
“And I am not God to also say that I will remain in Labour Party or leave. But as we speak, the current conditions do not warrant my leaving Labour Party.
“Tomorrow, anything can change. And I have told you, I am very pragmatic and I look at things. Of course, if I am going to take any decision, it is going to be taken in full consultation with Abia people,” he added.
