The Labour Party leadership crisis escalates as National Chairman Julius Abure, and NWC members boycott a stakeholders’ meeting called by Abia State Governor Alex Otti. Despite Peter Obi’s endorsement of the meeting, Abure and his loyalists remain firm in their decision to shun the event, criticising Otti’s actions as an overreach into party administration.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party intensified as National Chairman Julius Abure and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) boycotted a stakeholders’ meeting summoned by Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

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This meeting, endorsed by the party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, faced strong resistance from Abure, who warned Otti against meddling in party affairs.

A source close to Abure confirmed the boycott, stating that the NWC members were explicitly instructed not to attend the meeting. The source highlighted Abure’s recent warning to Otti and other party members to refrain from interfering in the party’s administration, a warning that appears to be at the heart of the current standoff.

Efforts to obtain comments from key party figures, including the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, and other NWC members, were unsuccessful. However, one NWC member confirmed the boycott through a brief text message.

The tension between Abure and Otti dates back to an earlier confrontation when Otti attempted to convene a National Executive Committee meeting to discuss the dissolution of party executives at various levels. Abure rejected this move, asserting that it was not within Otti’s authority to make such decisions.

Despite Abure’s objections, Governor Otti pressed ahead, renaming the meeting as a ‘Stakeholders’ Meeting’ and scheduling it for September 4 at the Government House in Umuahia, Abia State.

The gathering is expected to include prominent party figures, including Peter Obi, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other top officials. However, the absence of Abure and the NWC members casts a shadow over the event, signalling deepening divisions within the party.