Otti tears into Abure’s ‘clownish’ suspension orders, calling for police action and INEC enforcement of a Supreme Court ruling that sacked the LP chairman.
The Labour Party’s internal standoff has reached fever pitch as Abia State Governor Alex Otti lashes out at the embattled Julius Abure, branding his purported suspension as “a desperate act of a clown looking for a crown.”
This confrontation stems from a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered on 4 April 2025, which, according to a Certified True Copy, declared Abure’s tenure expired and stripped him of authority—contravening his own claims of judicial vindication.
In retaliation, Abure’s faction suspended Otti, Senators Ireti Kingibe and Darlington Nwokocha, alongside three House of Representatives members, prompting calls for police intervention and INEC enforcement of the apex court’s ruling
The deepening crisis threatens Labour’s cohesion and electoral viability ahead of 2027, raising urgent questions about judicial enforcement, party democracy and the future of Nigeria’s rising opposition force.
Background of the Labour Party Crisis
Origins of Julius Abure’s Chairmanship
Julius Abure was first elected National Chairman of the Labour Party in 2021, succeeding Abdulkadir Abdulsalam and enjoying initial backing from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Peter Obi’s Obidient movement.
However, his leadership was challenged both legally and politically: a Court of Appeal ruling in November 2024 recognised his tenure, only for the Supreme Court to overturn that decision in April 2025, ruling that internal party leadership disputes fall outside judicial purview and that his tenure had lapsed.
The Pivotal Supreme Court Judgment
On 4 April 2025, a five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over Labour Party affairs and dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal as unmeritorious.
The judgment declared his tenure expired, effectively sacking him from office and affirming the validity of the Sen. Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee.
Despite this, Abure publicly insisted the judgment upheld his leadership, claiming courts should not interfere in party matters—a stance flatly contradicted by the Certified True Copy obtained by THISDAY.
Dual Power: Usman-Led Caretaker vs Abure Faction
Usman-Led Caretaker Committee Actions
Following the Supreme Court verdict, Senator Nenadi Usman’s Caretaker Committee moved swiftly to consolidate authority.
NEC constituted a disciplinary panel to probe Abure for alleged financial misappropriation, impersonation and anti-party activities, granting it 21 days to report back.
Concurrently, Usman’s faction lodged the Certified True Copy of the judgment with INEC, urging enforcement to preserve judicial integrity and democracy.
Abure’s Counter-Move: Suspension of Prominent Leaders
In what Governor Otti derided as a “joke taken too far,” the Abure-led faction announced the indefinite suspension of six senior members—Otti, Senators Kingibe and Nwokocha, and Reps Victor Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi—citing alleged anti-party infractions.
National Secretary Umar Farouk Ibrahim warned INEC, the Nigeria Governors Forum and security agencies to recognise his faction’s edicts, in a brazen attempt to sidestep the Supreme Court’s decision.
Governor Otti’s Forceful Rebuttal
“A Clown Looking for a Crown”
Through his Special Adviser Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti dismissed Abure’s suspension as the desperate act of “inconsequential irritants,” arguing that only the Supreme Court could determine party leadership and that Abure’s mandate had long expired.
He implored the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Abure for impersonation and urged INEC to enforce the apex court ruling without delay.
Solidarity from Suspended Colleagues
Several suspended figures echoed Otti’s defiance. Hon. Amobi Ogah branded the suspension “inconsequential,” reaffirming loyalty to the mandate of the people rather than factional decrees.
Senator Kingibe and Reps Ogene and Sowunmi, although not yet issuing public statements, are widely expected to align with Otti’s position given their close political ties.
Democratic and Electoral Implications
Threat to Party Cohesion and Credibility
This factional tug-of-war undermines the Labour Party’s hard-won reputation for youth-driven grassroots mobilisation.
A divided leadership risks alienating supporters disillusioned by infighting, potentially eroding the momentum that propelled LP to prominence in 2023.
INEC’s Crucial Role
INEC’s response will be a litmus test for judicial enforcement in Nigeria.
Having obtained a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, the commission must decide whether to derecognise Abure’s faction and restore the Usman-led Caretaker Committee—failure to do so could ignite legal challenges and street protests.
Security Agencies and Rule of Law
Otti’s call to the IGP to arrest Abure for impersonation escalates the crisis into a law-enforcement domain.
How the police and possible intervention by the NLC will unfold remains to be seen, but a high-profile arrest could inflame tensions further.
