Labour Party Revokes Automatic Tickets for Peter Obi and Alex Otti
After the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, led by Julius Abure of the Labour Party, on Monday, September 9, the party has revoked the automatic ticket for the 2027 election.
In March, the party had reserved its presidential ticket for Peter Obi, the party’s flagbearer in the last presidential election, and Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State.
As the party continues to face internal turmoil, last week, some leaders of the party, including Obi, Otti, and some elected lawmakers, appointed a 29-member caretaker committee led by former Senator Nenadi Usman to lead the party in an interim capacity.
However, the Abure-led faction, speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, nullified the decision to install an interim leadership, while revoking the party’s earlier decision on automatic tickets.
Speaking during a press briefing after the party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure said the 2027 presidential ticket is now open to all members.
“NEC in session also reviewed the decision of the National Convention to reserve its Presidential and Governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti, respectively,” he said.
“Consequently, all party tickets, from the Presidency to the House of Assemblies, are open to all qualified Nigerians.”
On the issue of the meeting convened in Abia, Abure alleged that Alex Otti lacked the authority within the party to call for such a meeting.
“The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution. Article 14 (4)(B) gives the power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman.”
He continued:
“No governor that we gave a ticket can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how highly placed, will come and, with a fiat, dissolve the NWC, state councils, or LG councils; even a military government would not do that. The mandate given to me and my team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention held on the 27th day of March 2024 will be defended.
“We are at a critical moment in the life of our party. Recent events have shown that those who should stand with us in the fight for a better, restructured, organized, and united party have chosen a different path.
“A path not of unity, but of division. I speak, of course, of the illegal gathering that took place in Abia State—an attempt to create a rift within our party, led by none other than His Excellency Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti. This meeting, held without the authority or consent of the National Executive Council, sought to install a so-called ‘new leadership.’
“Let me be clear: this action was not just illegal. It was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for. A reward for loyalty with ingratitude, a reward for support with insubordination.”
Also Read: Alex Otti will be Last Labour Party Governor in Abia State – Dep. Speaker
