Julius Abure’s faction of the Labour Party (LP) has declared that all its electoral tickets for the 2027 general election are available for all qualified Nigerians to contest. The decision was reached during a national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, September 9.
“NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti respectively,” a communique from the meeting reads.
“Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.”
The faction stated that Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, lacked the authority to call a stakeholders’ meeting that resulted in the formation of a caretaker committee headed by former senator Nenadi Usman.
“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State His Excellency Alex Otti who convened the meeting did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman,” it reads.
“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.
“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022 which provides as follows; 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”
Last week, Nenadi Usman was appointed to head a 29-member national caretaker committee following a stakeholders’ meeting of the party convened by Alex Otti in Abia. The meeting was attended by Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Callistus Okafor, who leads a separate faction of the party, has rejected the Usman-led committee, arguing that a standing court order designates him as the acting chair of the party.