Labour Party rejects Abia Governor Alex Otti’s reconciliation efforts, citing ongoing leadership dispute and legal proceedings
The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) deepened on Monday after the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) firmly rejected reconciliation efforts initiated by Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti.
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The Abure faction described the move as dishonest and ill-timed, maintaining that the party’s leadership dispute remains unresolved and that ongoing legal proceedings have yet to be exhausted.
National Publicity Secretary Mr Obiora Ifoh said the reconciliation proposal lacked sincerity and questioned its timing.
“We are not interested in any reconciliation move being proposed by Governor Alex Otti because he is largely responsible for the crisis facing the party today,” he said.
Ifoh dismissed recent court rulings celebrated by the opposing faction, calling them “decisions of a court of first instance” and warned that the Abure-led leadership would eventually prevail.
“Their celebration is a pyrrhic victory. It will fade away, and Nigerians will soon see the authentic leadership of the Labour Party. The battle is far from over,” he added.
The strong rejection came hours after Governor Otti lamented the exit of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing it as a significant blow to the party.
Speaking at a meeting with the party’s Board of Trustees, National Caretaker Committee leaders, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, Otti reiterated the need for reconciliation.
“We call on Julius Abure and his team to sheathe their swords and return to the party. As long as they are willing to abide by the party’s rules, we will gladly welcome them back,” Otti said.
The Abia governor also confirmed that the Labour Party would not participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory council elections and ruled out joining a broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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“Labour Party is already a coalition, a coalition of Nigerian workers and progressive-minded citizens. We have no intention of joining any other coalition,” Otti said, while commending INEC for replacing the Abure-led committee with the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee in line with a Federal High Court judgment.
