LP Crisis: Abure faction suspends Otti, Nwokocha, Kingibe, others indefinitely
….Usman initiates disciplinary action against Abure
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has suspended six prominent members of the party, including the party’s only elected governor, Alex Otti of Abia State.
This decision was contained in a statement issued by the faction’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said, “Recall that last Friday, 2nd of May 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 Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and any other party members over allegations of anti-party activities.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded their assignment and has submitted their report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today, May 7th, 2025, and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution, has ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect. 1. Dr Alex Otti; 2. Senator Ireti Kingibe; 3. Senator Darlington Nwokocha; 4. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; 5. Hon. Amobi Ogah; 6. 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.
The party also clarified that Nenadi Usman was not included in the suspension list because she is not a registered member of the Labour Party, but merely a supporter of its 2023 presidential candidate.
“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,” the statement added.
“She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, and her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its position on political independence, the Labour Party declared that it will not enter into any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Full Statement: Why Otti, Kingibe, others were suspended by Labour Party
“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,” the statement added.
“Like we have earlier stated, the protagonists of the coalition, those driving the agenda, lack the capacity, 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? The Labour Party intends to prosecute the 2027 general election as a standalone party, and no further discussion will be entertained on this matter.”
Usman initiates disciplinary action against Abure
In another development, the protracted leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP) lingers on as the National Caretaker Committee of the party under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Esther Usman has set up a six-member disciplinary committee to investigate allegations of corruption and anti-party activities against the party’s embattled national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.
Usman at a media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja said the party was tired of the antics of Abure as the former LP Chairman, whom he said had become an impostor in the party.
The latest development comes days after the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) also set up a disciplinary committee to investigate Alex Otti, the Abia governor, over alleged anti-party activities.
“Under Article 19 of the Labour Party Constitution (1999 as amended), and in response to serious allegations of corruption, financial misconduct, and anti-party activities, the NEC hereby constitutes a disciplinary committee to investigate Barrister Julius Abure and recommend appropriate sanctions.
“Members of the Disciplinary Committee: Senator Ireti Kingibe (Chairman), High Chief Peter Ameh (Secretary) other members are: Kumba Mbemba, Hon. Okejo Onwakalusi, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulkarim and a former acting National Chairman of the party, Mrs. Maria Lebeke,” she said.
The committee which was given 21 days to submit its report, was charged with the task of investigating the allegations as well as evidence brought before it and to ensure that the all parties were given fair hearing.
The former minister of finance also said that contrary to the deliberate attempt by Abure and his “co-travellers,” the party under her leadership had taken steps to restore confidence to the party.
Usman said that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) under her leadership had queried Abure, giving him 24 hours to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for his anti-party activities.
She said that instead of Abure to be denigrating the party and its leaders, he should use his time to address the various allegations of corruption and forgery against him.
Usman also accused Abure of hijacking party structures by refusing to conduct congresses at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels ahead of the national convention.
She said the caretaker team would restore internal democracy in the party and release a timetable for proper congresses and elections.
The party has remained in crisis, with both factions citing the April 4 Supreme Court judgment as justification for their claims to the LP leadership.
While Abure’s camp says the judgment validated his position, the caretaker committee insists it confirms that his tenure has expired as validated by the Apex Court.
