Politics

Labour Party Crisis Deepens: Obi and Otti’s New Interim Committee Sparks Dispute; Their Letter to INEC Emerge

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 10th, 2024.

Labour Party Crisis Deepens: Obi and Otti’s New Interim Committee Sparks Dispute; Their Letter to INEC Emerge

The Labour Party is in turmoil as Peter Obi and Alex Otti have sent a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about a new interim committee. Dated September 6, 2024, the letter asks INEC to recognize a 29-member committee led by Senator Esther Nnenadi Usman to manage the party temporarily.

The letter highlights recent issues within the Labour Party, including INEC’s de-recognition of the previous leadership led by Abure in June 2024. This followed a previous agreement that required organizing a national convention with various congresses within a year. Obi and Otti claim that the convention held by Abure’s team did not meet these requirements, leading to a leadership vacuum.

To fill this gap, key party members and stakeholders set up the new caretaker committee on September 4, 2024. This committee is tasked with organizing the necessary congresses and convention within 180 days.

The new committee includes representatives from various groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as former governorship candidates and state assembly members. However, Abure’s faction has rejected the committee, calling it “illegal” and “unconstitutional,” and has demanded official proof from INEC about the leadership crisis.