The leadership tussle in the Labour Party took a dramatic twist on Monday after the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee of the Labour Party announced the removal of Hon Afam Ogene as LP Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives over his involvement in anti-party activities.
The NEC also vowed to direct the disciplinary committee to sanction LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, if they go ahead with their planned stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday, as well as other activities that may undermine the party.
The development was announced in the communique read to journalists by the Labour Party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk, at the end of a NEC meeting held at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Earlier, both Abure and Obi had simultaneously called for separate meetings of the National Executive Committee to discuss the future of the party following Friday’s judgment by the Supreme Court.
While Abure’s NEC was held at the national headquarters on Monday, Obi and Governor Alex Otti moved their stakeholders’ summit to Wednesday to a yet-to-be-named venue.
The feuding parties made the summons in separate terse statements made available to The PUNCH.
The statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, read, “PRESS INVITATION: The National Executive Committee meeting of the Labour Party held on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the National Party Secretariat.”
Barely an hour after Abure’s invite was released, Obi and Otti also sent out invitations calling for stakeholders’ engagement in what many believed was a counter-move to sway the loyalty of their supporters.
The statement signed by Obi’s Spokesman, Ibrahim Umar partly read, “The two leading figures of the Labour Party, the 2023 presidential flag bearer Peter Obi and the sole state governor of the party, Alex Oti of Abia State, have summoned the National Executive Committee of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
“In a notice signed by the two men, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive Town Hall Engagement with major stakeholders and other organs of the party at Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
“The stakeholders listed to attend the meeting include the vice presidential candidate for the 2023 election, serving and former senators and senatorial candidates of LP in the 2023 election, and serving and former members of the House of Representatives and LP candidates in the 2023 election.”
The atmosphere outside the LP national headquarters was quite tense following the arrival of three police patrol vans and the presence of about 50 suspected miscreants milling around the precinct of the NEC meeting.
The real fireworks were to follow when, after the end of the National Executive Committee summit, Farouk announced the sack of the Reps Caucus leader.
In his place, fellow Lawnaker, Hon Ben Eternabene, was appointed as the new leader.
Farouk said, “NEC in session reviewed the activities of the House of Representatives Caucus leader, Hon Victor Afam Ogene and wishes to note as follows: That the voice of the current leadership of the party is not being heard in the hallowed lower chambers and there is a lack of cohesion amongst our members in the House.
“Again, the leadership appears to be compromised and the ideology of the party is not well represented. NEC in session, as a result, decided to relieve Ogene of that leadership role for dereliction of duty. Consequently, Hon Ben Etanabene has been appointed as the Labour Party’s Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives.”
While mandating Abure’s National Working Committee to communicate the decision to relevant authorities, the NEC also demanded that Ogene hand over all the party’s properties, including the financial contributions made by LP lawmakers in his possession, to the party with immediate effect.
Ogene incurred the wrath of the party when he backed the Nenad Usman-led National Caretaker Committee after hailing Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court.
He said, “Next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC, led by respected former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward.
“The caucus had emphasised at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts. As direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.
“Rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027. That was not only insensitive but undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, sustainability, and progress of the party.”
After Ogene’s sanction, the NEC also threatened to deal decisively with Obi and Otti if they go ahead with their planned stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday and future anti-activities that may undermine the party.
Although the exact punitive measure was not mentioned, a few sources at the secretariat told The PUNCH both party leaders may be suspended from the party.
The communique partly read, “NEC in session notes the various anti-party activities of Governor Alex Otti, including calling of unauthorized Stakeholders meeting and usurping the powers of NEC. He also conducted the LGA Election using another Political Party. The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is also aware of the governor’s plot to cripple our party before moving to another political party where he hopes to contest the 2027 governorship election. His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and can no longer be acceptable.
“NEC in session also caution the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace, unity and integrity of the party as the NEC will not hesitate to discipline any other erring member who violates the party constitution regardless of how big or powerful such individuals may be and issue a stiffer penalty if found culpable.”
In his first public appearance after Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court, Abure, who chaired the NEC meeting, expressed displeasure over what he called the deliberate misinterpretation of the apex court judgment to mislead Nigerians.
According to him, the apex court was clear about its verdict on party supremacy, stressing that party matters are the internal affairs of political platforms.
The LP chair also threw shade at Obi and Otti, describing them as betrayals.
He said, “Tell them that there is no vacancy in our party. In the Labour Party, we don’t betray our candidates even though some betray us after giving them tickets. We also want to urge those who have been deceived by last week’s misleading interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment to disregard the speculation. I remain the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“Again, the Labour Party Constitution does not recognise the setting up of a caretaker committee for party affairs.”
Continuing, Abure declared that there is no vacancy in the leadership for those who are creating conflict in the party to take advantage of.
The LP national chairman also announced the party’s Constitution does not even recognise or create room to accommodate any caretaker committee.
He said, “It is, however, regrettable that certain actors, most notably Senators Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha, have chosen to misrepresent the ruling, deliberately misleading the public and attempting to manufacture confusion through a purported “Caretaker Committee.”
“Let it be stated categorically that this so-called committee is both unconstitutional and illegitimate. Those who convened the meeting in Umuahia lacked the legal authority to do so. They neither hold the office of National Chairman nor National Secretary as required by our party’s constitution.”
When contacted, the Acting National Chairman of the NLC Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, described the NEC decisions as bizarre.
The union leader also wondered why Abure was still seated comfortably at the secretariat despite knowing that he was no longer in charge of the party affairs.
He said, “I think this has become something strange. This is a case of mental illness. Come to think of it, it is no longer Peter Obi, Otti or the NLC that Abure is fighting. He is fighting the highest court in the land. And that is the Supreme Court where, after his, he can only go to heaven to appeal.
“He has been told by the apex court that you are no more qualified and can no longer be the chairman of the Labour Party in a very simple language. This same Abure has been heard saying that over his dead body will he leave the Labour Party. He said Instead, he will destroy it. You can quote me on that.”
Ndubuaku, however, opined that by Tuesday, everybody will know where they stand when the Supreme Court eventually releases the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
“Now that earlier court judgment has been vacated, will INEC keep saying Abure is the national chairman by court judgments? So whatever game Abure is playing with INEC, we will soon find out.
“I’m sure by the end of today, the CTC of that judgment will be out. At least it will clear everything. We’ll see,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Usman-led caretaker committee, Tony Akeni, has expressed dismay about the sacking of Ogene and the immediate appointment of Etanabene.
While lamenting the NEC’s action, Akeni warned that Abure and his loyalists would live to regret their actions once the tables turned.
“I have a lot to say about Hon Etabene. He’s a great guy, but his role in this Abure saga leaves much to the desire. That table will turn. And when it turns, those that Abure is trying to ridicule will be in a position where he will have to make his own rules and be sorry for himself.
“A lot is coming against Abure. It seems he is being misadvised because at this moment, what we expect is total remorse. Not speaking like an emperor that has an empire at his disposal. What Abure is holding is an empire of ashes. Trust me.
“So whatever he’s contemplating to do is child’s play. It is a swansong and he’s going to be very sorry for any action that embarrasses the leadership of the party, whether political leaders like Peter Obi or Governor Oti. He’s going to be very sorry about it. I can assure you.”
The Punch
