LAGOS, Nigeria — Just 48 hours after the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of the Labour Party warned of possible sanctions against Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, both parties confirmed their stakeholders’ meeting will still proceed as planned. This announcement comes following speculation that the summit would be canceled under pressure from the Labour Party leadership.
Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, the Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, and Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, made independent statements via phone confirming the event’s continuation. ‘Who are those speculating about the nonsense? This is the real theatre of the absurd,’ Ndubuaku said. ‘If someone were acting this out as a Nollywood script, everyone would say this scriptwriter is foolish and demented.’
In essence, both Ndubuaku and Ibrahim sought to dismiss concerns about the meeting’s potential cancellation. ‘It is not true,’ Ibrahim stated. ‘If it was postponed, I would have issued an official statement. All invited stakeholders are ready to storm the venue today.’
Despite the uncertainties, Ibrahim declined to respond directly regarding the threats of sanctions against Obi and Otti, expressing that they wished to avoid drama with the Labour Party. Meanwhile, the Labour Party had officially announced the dismissal of Afam Ogene, the LP Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives, due to his alleged involvement in anti-party activities.
The Labour Party’s crisis escalated when Abure’s NEC vowed to sanction Obi and Otti if they moved forward with their scheduled engagement and any opposing activities that may be seen as undermining the party. This was stated in a communique delivered by Alhaji Umar Farouk, the Labour Party’s National Secretary, after a meeting at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
This situation developed rapidly as both Obi and Abure called for separate National Executive Committee meetings to discuss the party’s future, especially following the recent Supreme Court verdict.
Meanwhile, contact with National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh confirmed that the NEC’s stance is definitive. ‘However, we are watching the development and will respond at the right time,’ Ifoh added.
The political climate remains tense as both factions within the Labour Party grapple with maintaining unity while upholding party discipline amidst scandal. With threats of sanctions hanging over them, Obi and Otti’s steadfast determination to complete their scheduled meeting signals a pivotal moment in Labour’s ongoing power struggles.
