“Abure Is Just Masturbating” — Gov Otti Slams LP Leadership Crisis
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared that Julius Abure, the embattled factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), no longer holds legitimate authority within the party, asserting that Abure is well aware “his reign is over.”
Otti made the remarks during a candid interview on The Morning Show on ARISE TV, where he addressed the ongoing leadership tussle tearing through the LP. The conflict pits Abure and his loyalists against a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman — a group backed by Otti and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The latest twist in the party’s internal battle came after the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to affirm Abure as the national chairman. Despite the clear verdict, multiple factions have since attempted to spin the ruling as a victory for their respective camps. Adding to the confusion, Lamidi Apapa has also claimed leadership of the party.
“Go through the Supreme Court judgment and you’ll see the truth — Abure is just masturbating,” Otti said bluntly, using provocative language to underscore his belief that Abure’s continued assertion of power is baseless and delusional.
Amid rising defections from opposition ranks to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti reaffirmed his loyalty to the LP, insisting the party remains stable under its new caretaker leadership.
“Governor Otti is not decamping, and my party is not on shaky ground,” he said. “This is democracy. Everyone doesn’t need to be in the APC. President Bola Tinubu stood by his party lineage — AD, AC, ACN — before becoming president through the APC. Sometimes, you have to stand for something.”
While maintaining his current position, Otti left the door open for future political shifts, emphasising that such decisions would be made pragmatically and in consultation with the people of Abia.
“I’m not God to say I’ll remain in the Labour Party forever,” he said. “But as we speak, current conditions do not warrant my leaving. If that changes, I will consult Abians before making any move.”
He added that the newly constituted caretaker committee will oversee a full restructuring of the party — from ward-level congresses to a national convention — before year’ ends.
