2027: Otti, Usman-led NWC hail INEC over recognition
Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP).
Governor Otti said the release of the much-awaited certified true copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court’s judgment has brought to an end the protracted leadership tussle in the LP and has given room for self-discovery.
Addressing the media after the NWC meeting in Abuja, Governor Otti expressed happiness over the uploading of the names of the party’s NWC leaders on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website.
He disclosed that the party might not participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections due to time constraints, but assured that the party would participate actively in subsequent elections.
“The party regrets that it is not going to participate in the upcoming FCT area council election this February. And that was because of the prolonged legal battle, but with the INEC affecting changes of party leadership, we are ready to bounce back for other local government and state congresses, and the National convention.”
Addressing recent internal challenges, Otti acknowledged the exit of the party’s former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and the defection of some National Assembly members and interim national committee officials.
While expressing regret over the development, he, however, said the Labour Party remained strong and committed to resolving its internal issues.
According to him, a reconciliation committee will be constituted to engage aggrieved members who are willing to return and abide by the party’s rules.
Otti said he had personally appealed to Julius Abure and his team to sheathe their swords and rejoin the party in the interest of unity.
“For now, the party acknowledges Obi’s departure and we wish him well. Now, we are not discussing his next decisions or whether to come back, but one good thing well pronounced is that he has a party where he belongs.
“But I must tell you that we also had put up a reconciliation committee to reunite aggrieved party members who had lost many National Assembly members due to the internal crises. In the same vein, we extend an olive branch to Abure and his group to come over so that we build a stronger and viral political party against any opponent.”
On whether the party was considering joining a coalition, Otti described the Labour Party as a coalition already and has no plan to join any other coalition.
“The Labour Party doesn’t need to be in a coalition because it is already a coalition of all the Nigerian workers forming about 75 percent of the Nigerian population. So, why do we need another coalition to succeed?”
The NWC meeting was attended by members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other party faithful.
Meanwhile LP will commence nationwide congresses from March as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s internal structures and reposition it ahead of future elections.
