“Attempting To Destroy LP Will Lead To Your Destruction” – Gov Otti Warns Abure

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has urged the erstwhile National Chairman of Labour Party, LP,  Bar. Julius Abure and his National Working Committee, NWC, members to place the interest and unity of the party  above any other considerations.

Governor Otti’s admonition  comes against the backdrop of the insistence by the Abure-led NWC of still being in charge, despite  the Supreme court verdict on the Party’s leadership crisis.

The Apex Court had, on Friday April 4, 2025, in a unanimous decision by a five-man man panel of Justices,  affirmed  the supremacy of political parties in all internal issues, including Leadership.

The Panel had, while upholding the appeal filed by the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led Interim leadership of the party against the continued stay in office the Abure-led NWC, also held that  its tenure had elapsed as at the time of the conduct of the controversial Nnewi Convention  in 2024.

However, the judgment has since been subjected to varying interpretations by the concerned parties,with Abure and his official claiming not to have been sacked, as widely perceived by not a few as well as the interim leadership of the party.

The Usman-led interim leadership was put together on September 4, 2024, at a special Stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital, as a last practical effort at saving the the Party from a complete death.

The meeting, attended by its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Senator Datti Ahmed, Members of the National Assembly caucus, and other major stakeholders across the country, was convened and hosted by the Party’s only elected Governor, Otti.

However, the outcome of the parley including the establishment of the Usman-led interim leadership was roundly rejected by the Abure faction, which insisted on the sanctity of the outcome of the heavily  boycotted Nnewi Convention where they claimed to have been re-elected for a second term in office.

But reacting to the position of the Abure-led faction on Saturday April 5, 2025 at an event in his Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South Council of the State, Governor Otti called on  the Abure group to consider giving peace a chance in the overall interest of the party.

According to him, any attempts to undermine the peace, stability and growth of LP at this stage will be counterproductive. He emphasized the pre-eminence of the party over all other persons and interests.

He, however, warned those trying to destroy the party to be mindful of the fact that they are also destroying themselves.

“The Party is bigger and more important than any of us. The triumph of evil over good is for a while.

“So, we thank God for the Supreme Court judgment on Friday. We, somehow, believed that justice will be done to Labour Party, and we are happy that it has been done.

“However, I have heard and observed some people claiming not to have been removed from office by the Supreme Court judgment.

“We can, as well, ignore them, but I will not. I want to appeal to them to give peace a chance. Except if their target has been to destroy the party from the onset.

“But if they want to destroy the Party, they will end up destroying themselves, and the party will become even stronger”, Governor Otti warned.