Labour Party condemns Obi, Otti’s emergency NEC meeting as ‘Illegal’

The Labour Party has denounced an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting convened by former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, labeling it “illegal” and a “desperate attempt to hijack the party structure”.

The meeting, held in Abuja, aimed to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into taking action against the party’s current leadership.

According to the party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the meeting was unconstitutional and a clear breach of the party’s rules. “Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti have no power under the constitution to convene the purported NEC meeting in Abuja,” Ibrahim stated.

The Labour Party leadership expressed concerns over the meeting’s composition, which included members of the National Caretaker Committee, a body not recognized in the party’s constitution. Article 14 of the Labour Party constitution outlines the specific members who should comprise the NEC, but Obi and Otti’s meeting allegedly disregarded these guidelines.

The party also criticized the meeting’s outcome, which included threats to use “brute force” to recover party leadership. “We advise them to seek peaceful means to resolve the crisis, as threats and intimidation may never achieve anything positive,” Ibrahim cautioned.

The controversy stems from INEC’s recent stance on the Labour Party’s leadership, citing the expiration of the current executives’ tenure. Obi and Otti’s actions have sparked concerns about their intentions and potential consequences for the party.

The Labour Party has urged its members and the public to disregard the meeting and its outcome, emphasizing adherence to its constitution and the rule of law. The party’s leadership cautions against actions that could undermine the party’s integrity.

As the situation unfolds, the Labour Party’s future hangs in the balance. With the party’s constitution and leadership under scrutiny, one thing is clear: the Labour Party’s integrity and legitimacy are at stake.