A stakeholder meeting of the Labour Party, LP, in Awka was disrupted when a group of protesters infiltrated the event and challenged the authority of the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti to summon the meeting.
The meeting, intended to strategize and plan for the party’s future, was thrown into disorder as the protesters loudly proclaimed, “We don’t want Alex Otti! He’s not competent!”
The disruption temporarily halted proceedings, as party leaders attempted to regain control of the situation.
Adding to the tension, the protesters said that the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, whose tenure has long expired, still holds authority, contradicting the directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
They also argued that Governor Otti had no right to summon the meeting and insisted that Mr Abure remain their recognized national chairman, despite official communications indicating otherwise.
At a press conference following the incident, Leaders of the Labour Party addressed these claims and condemned the actions of the Protesters , clarifying that there is currently no recognized national leadership at the state and local government levels, as directed by INEC.
According to party officials, INEC has instructed Governor Alex Otti, the highest elected member of the LP, in partnership with the party’s national leader, Peter Obi, to organize elections to fill these leadership positions which the elections are scheduled to take place on September 4, 2024.
The stakeholders’ meeting was called to discuss the upcoming elections and to chart a course forward for the party.
An LP member who convened the meeting, Chief Edozie Ezeugwa explained that some elements chose to disturb the proceedings, rejecting Alex Otti’s leadership and violating INEC’s directives noting that Mr Abure has been officially removed as national chairman, his name erased from the party portal, and there is no further communication between them and INEC.
Chief Ezeugwa also emphasized that during a recent meeting held by INEC, no representative from Mr Abure’s faction was present, further highlighting the absence of legitimate leadership at that level as according to him, this prompted Governor Otti and former Governor Obi to collaborate with other national bodies to organize the stakeholders’ meeting, which unfortunately was marred by the disruption.
Despite the disturbances, the leader of Obidient General, Chief Ikenna Azomchine expressed satisfaction with the large turnout from grassroots members, viewing it as evidence of the party’s strong foundation and enduring appeal, noting that the Labour Party is where Peter Obi comes from, and it remains a beacon of hope for many Nigerians.
The party’s gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State in 2023, Mr Eze Oko Splendor said the incident has raised concerns about the rising trend of violence and thuggery in political gatherings, warning that such actions could undermine the democratic process if left unchecked while assuring that they are committed to following the right processes to ensure that the Labour Party remains a force for positive change in Nigeria
For the appointed Caretaker Chairman of Labor Party, Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye, the disruption is condemnable while reiterating the party’s commitment to democratic principles and stating that what happened was an unfortunate attempt to derail their progress.
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