In the ongoing tension within the Labour Party, Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced his plan to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, now referred to as a ‘Stakeholders’ Meeting.’ This meeting is scheduled for September 4 at the Government House in Umuahia, Abia State, following opposition from the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure.
This decision was revealed in a circular issued by Dodoh Okafor, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Public Communication. Otti has stated that the purpose of the meeting is to strengthen and improve the Labour Party’s unity and effectiveness.
The Stakeholders’ Meeting will include prominent figures such as Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, as well as members of the National Working Committee led by Julius Abure, senators, and House of Representatives members.
The circular also noted that representatives from the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, vice presidential candidates, the Abia deputy governor, current and former senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly members are expected to attend. Additionally, five members of the Abure-led National Working Committee and gubernatorial candidates from Edo and Ondo states will be present. Former governorship candidates from each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria have also been invited.
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This move by Governor Otti comes after a heated statement from Julius Abure, who warned Otti to focus on governance and avoid interfering in party matters by convening a NEC meeting. Abure expressed his frustration after a recent meeting where Otti mentioned his intention to hold the NEC meeting on August 31 to potentially dissolve party executives at various levels, citing expired tenures.
Abure argued that such decisions are beyond the governor’s authority, emphasizing that the governor should not unilaterally make such changes. When asked about the meeting, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said that the party was not officially aware of any meeting and was surprised to hear about the shift from NEC to a stakeholders’ meeting.
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