Labour Party NEC withdraws Obi, Otti’s automatic ticket for 2027 elections | Read Details
The Labour party has reviewed and withdrawn the 2027 automatic presidential and governorship tickets from Mr. Peter Obi and governor Alex Otti of Abia state respectively.
The National Executive Council , NEC of the Labour Party in it’s meeting held on Monday at it’s national secretariat in Abuja, resolved that all tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.
This comes following the disagreement arising from the stakeholders meeting convened by governor Alex Otti and Peter Obi in Umuahia last week.
The council reiterated that there is no leadership gap in the party, adding 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”.
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Read the full resolution below:
RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF LABOUR PARTY HELD ON MONDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2024 AT THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT UTAKO, ABUJA AT 10:00 AM.
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.
At the end of the meeting, the following resolutions were approved and adopted;
1. 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
2. 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.
V. The Ward Officer(s) may be removed by 2/3 of votes cast by the Ward Congress.
NEC in session condemn in strong terms the conveners of the meeting in Abia State who dwelt in illegality and therefore all the outcome of the meeting amount to nullity and the party is hereby disassociating itself from the conveners and the outcome of the meeting.
NEC in session note that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party. The Party has conducted its National Convention in line with the party Constitution, the Electoral Act and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 27th March, 2024 at Nnewi Anambra State which has been validated by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Consequently, NEC in session therefore calls on the Honourable Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu to stop aiding and abetting the Governor of Abia State Alex Otti to further cause damage to the party.
NEC in session also note that His Excellency Alex Otti have constantly quoted the INEC Chairman as saying that the tenure of the officers of the party has expired, which His Excellency Alex Otti said has necessitated his calling of the meeting and setting up a Caretaker Committee.
On the basis of the foregoing therefore, NEC in session hereby call on all teeming members, supporters and members of the general public to kindly disregard the so-called meeting and its outcome.
3. NEC in session hereby reimpose confidence in the leadership of Barr. Julius Abure led National Working Committee and urge all Party members to continue to respect the leadership of the party and obey its lawful directives.
4. NEC in session hereby delegates its powers to fill vacant positions in the NWC.
5. NEC in session also approved the conduct of State, Local Government and Ward Congress as may be schedule by the National Working Committee in line with party’s Constitution and other Extant laws.
6. NEC In session also approved the composition of the diciplinary committee as provided in Constitution.
7. NEC in session also approved the review of some disciplinary actions taken against some members in the spirit of reconciliation.
8. 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.
9. NEC in session also grant the National Working Committee powers to take disciplinary action against any member that brings the party to disrepute.
Barrister Julius Abure Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim
National ChairmanNational Secretary
