By Caleb ISHAYA
Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, LP, yesterday, announced the indefinite suspension of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
The party suspended the above listed chieftains following the report of a panel set up to investigate Otti and other members for alleged anti-party activities.
On May 2, 2025, the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Labour Party set up a five man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary and three others to investigate Otti and any other party members over allegations of anti party activities.
The Disciplinary Committee concluded its assignment and submitted their report to the party leadership.
According the party, the National Executive Council of the party met May 7, 2025 and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers given to it by the Party Constitution ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
However, a statement by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, LP’s National Secretary of Julius Abure-led said: “Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect.
“Dr Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Hon. Amobi Ogah, and Hon. Seyi Sowunmi
“By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC and security agencies among others are to take note.”
LP also insisted that Nenadi Usman’s name is not on the list because she is not a member of the party.
The party charged Nenadi to reveal her plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The statement added: “It will surprise Nigerians and party faithful that the name of one Nenadi Usman was conspicuously omitted from the list of the suspended members of the party. First, we have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party being not a card carrying member of the Party. We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction being not a member of the party.
“Again, we are aware that Ms Usman recently in a well televised occasion, in cahoot with a former Kaduna state governor joined another political party where she pledged loyalty to the party. We are clearly confused where Usman Nenadi’s loyalty lies.
“The party leadership is also surprised that Nenadi Usman is talking about corruption when indeed she is the head mistress of corruption. Nigerians are already aware of all the EFCC cases against her and we expect Ms Usman to come out and explain to Nigerians the story behind her Plea Bargain with EFCC and all the properties she allegedly forfeited. She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption.
“In any event, the party’s financial records are straight and it will interest the members of the public to know that the party’s audited account has been published. INEC being the regulatory body sent their external auditors to audit the party’s account and they gave a clean report and as well commended the party for its financial transparency. It is on record that among the comity of Political Parties in Nigeria, Labour Party financial records was adjudge to be among the best.
“Finally, the party has since taken a position on the issue of coalition and we want to reiterate that the party is not interested in any overtures by any group or persons to go into any coalition or merger. Like we have earlier stated, the protagonists of the coalition; those driving the agenda lack the capacity, the character and competence to midwife such a political arrangement. These are people who have failed to manage one political party, how can they manage an amalgam of political parties and their varied interests. Labour Party intends to prosecute the 2027 general election as stand alone party and no further discussion will be entertained on this matter”.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the crisis in Labour Party , supposedly one of the major opposition political parties was enmeshed in crisis owing to the alleged tenure issue which some of the party stakeholders including Mr Peter Obi,the 2023 LP Presidential candidate, Dr Alex Otti, Abia State Governor and the only governor in the Labour Party had spoken against the actions of Julius Abure in elongating his tenure against the party’s procedure for electable Congresses. The matter Nenadi Usman took to court upto the Supreme Court, yet , both Abure and Nenadi were giving different interpretations to the judgement of the Supreme Court.
However, the Abia State Governor and the Senator Nwokocha and others have said, they are not perturbed because Julius Abure is no longer the Chairman of the Labour Party.
