The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party
(LP), has thrown open the contest for all of its tickets for the 2027 general
elections. This was sequel to its decision to nullify a resolution
taken at the party’s national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March
27, 2024. The party had announced that its 2027 Presidential ticket
and that of the Abia State Governorship, have been reserved for Mr. Peter Obi,
and Alex Otti, respectively. The LP NEC meeting which was chaired by the LP National
Chairman, Julius Abure, resolved to jettison the arrangement at a meeting, in
Abuja, yesterday. NEC also disowned the Senator Nanedi Usman-led 29 member
Interim Committee set up to steer the affairs of the party for 90 days. The NEC resolution read in part: “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. “Consequently, all tickets of the party from Presidency to
the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians. “The NEC in session after reviewing the purported
Stakeholders meeting held in Umuaiha Abia State condemned the conveners of the
meetings and thereafter disassociate itself from the outcome of the so-called
stakeholders meeting in Umuaiha Abia State, where the National Working
Committee, the National Executive Council, State Council, Local Government and
Ward Executives of the party were purportedly dissolved and a so-called
Caretaker Committee was set up. “The NEC in session note that the Governor of Abia State His
Excellency Alex Otti who convened the meeting do not have the power within the
Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call
meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of National Chairman. “NEC in session further reiterate that Governor of Abia
State do not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the
approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman. “The meeting
contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022
which provides as follows: “82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the
Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or
meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its
executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any
of the elective offices specified under this Act. “(2) The Commission may, with or without prior notice to the
political party attend and observe any convention, congress, conference or
meeting which is convened by a political party for the purpose of – (a) electing members of its executive committees or other
governing bodies “Article 17 of the Labour Party Constitution provides how
members of the National Working Committee, State Executive Committee and all
other officials of the party can be removed, For the avoidance of doubt,
Article 17 of our Party Constitution provides as follows; “I. The National Chairman of the Party may be suspended or
removed from office on a vote of No Confidence passed by at last two-thirds
majority at a National Convention convened solely for the consideration only of
such motion. “II. Any other National officer(s) of the Party may be
removed by 2/3 majority of votes cast by members at a Convention or National
Executives Council. “III. The State Officer(s) may be removed by 2/3 majority of
votes by the State Congress. IV. The Local Government Officer(s) may be removed by 2/3
majority of votes cast by the LGA Congress. The LP NEC equally condemned in strong terms the conveners
of the meeting in Abia State whom they alleged dwelt in illegality. It also
threatened to take disciplinary action against them. While dissociating itself from the conveners as well as the
outcome of the meeting, the NEC in session declared that there is no vacuum in
the leadership of the Party. It noted that the national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra
State, on March 27, 2024, was convened in accordance with laid down regulations
as such the tenure of elected members of the National Working Committee The
Party has conducted its National is still valid and that a court of competent
jurisdiction has upheld it. The party urged the Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to desist from promoting
illegality by claiming that Abure’s tenure had expired. The NEC Meeting was
attended by members of the National Working Committee, National officers of the
party, State Chairmen and Secretaries, Stakeholders of the party and other
co-opted members of the National Executive Council provided by Article 13 (A)
of the Party Constitution.
The resolutions were signed and made public by the party’s
National Chairman and Secretary, Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk
Ibrahim respectively..
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