Labour Party Rift Deepens as Abure Faction Rejects Otti’s Reconciliation Bid

Abure-led NWC calls Otti’s move dishonest and premature amid leadership tussle

The Labour Party (LP) crisis escalated on Monday as the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) rejected a reconciliation initiative by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, describing it as insincere and poorly timed.

The Abure faction insisted that the party’s leadership dispute remains unresolved, pointing to ongoing legal proceedings and accusing Governor Otti of playing a key role in triggering the current internal conflict.

Obiora Ifoh, LP National Publicity Secretary, dismissed Otti’s proposal, questioning both its sincerity and timing.

“We are not interested in any reconciliation move being proposed by Governor Alex Otti because he is largely responsible for the crisis facing the party today,” Ifoh said.
“What we witnessed was a decision of a court of first instance. Why can’t he wait for the outcome of the appeal before talking about reconciliation?”

Ifoh described the opposing faction’s recent court victory as a pyrrhic triumph, insisting that the Abure-led leadership would ultimately prevail.

“The battle is far from over. Nigerians will soon see the authentic leadership of the Labour Party,” he said.

Otti Calls for Healing, Rules Out New Coalitions

The strong rejection came hours after Governor Otti publicly lamented the exit of Peter Obi, the party’s former presidential candidate, during a meeting with the party’s Board of Trustees, leaders of the National Caretaker Committee, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja.

Otti announced plans to establish a reconciliation committee to mend divisions, appealing directly to the Abure-led faction to “sheathe their swords and return to the party.”

“As long as they are willing to abide by the party’s rules, we will gladly welcome them back,” he said.

The governor also confirmed that the Labour Party would not participate in the upcoming FCT council elections and ruled out joining any broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Labour Party is already a coalition, a coalition of Nigerian workers and progressive-minded citizens. We have no intention of joining any other coalition,” Otti said, commending INEC for implementing the Federal High Court ruling that recognized the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.

The dispute highlights deep divisions within the Labour Party despite court rulings and INEC recognition of new leadership.