Victor Ezeja
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on members of the party to remain calm as they are reviewing the recent developments, including the judgment delivered by an Abuja High Court which affirmed that Julius Abure is the substantive national chairman of the party.
In a statement via his official X handle on Wednesday, Obi said he, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, and Secretary of the Labour Party, convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the new development and the way forward.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa had reported that the Abuja Federal High Court ruling Declared Julius Abure as the substantive national chairman of the Labour Party.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Abure and his team, Justice Emeka Nwite upheld the March 2024 national convention organised in Nnewi, Anambra where Abure was reelected for the office of national chairman. Justice Nwite also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding the Commission’s earlier position that Abure’s leadership was invalid.
Prime Business Africa recalls that following INEC’s refusal to recongnise Abure’s leadership of the Labour Party, governor Otti, on 4 September, convened an extraordinary stakeholder meeting in Umuahia, where Obi, his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other stakeholders of the party appointed a 29-member caretaker committee led by ex-finance minister, Nenadi Usman. The committee was given a mandate to organise a national convention where substantive national leaders of the party will be elected.
READ ALSO: Abure Calls On Obi To Unite Labour Party As Court Affirms His Leadership
However, Abure and his team kicked against the creation of the committee and subsequently challenged INEC’s rejection of his leadership of the party in court.
Writing on his X handle, Obi said: “I urge all members of the Labour Party to remain calm and patient as we continue to engage in discussions and consultations.
“Our goal is to emerge stronger and more unified, standing together as one united front.
“We must not allow this to divert us from addressing the pressing issues affecting our people today.
“We have always known that the task of creating a new Nigeria that is possible will not come without challenges.”
In his reaction to the court judgment on Tuesday, Abure called on Obi to help unite the party. He also said he has forgiven all those who took action against his leadership, adding however, that they should consider restitution for the damages caused to him and his team.
As days unfold, Labour Party members and supporters are eager to know the next step in resolving the leadership crisis in the party.
There are indications that the caretaker committee has joined the suit and may likely appeal the judgment.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
