Abure and Obi call rival NEC meetings after the Supreme Court ruling, deepening the Labour Party’s internal power struggle.
ABUJA, Nigeria – In a dramatic twist that has rocked the core of Nigeria’s political establishment, two rival factions within the Labour Party (LP) have sprung into action following the recent Supreme Court judgment. The fallout from the apex court’s decision has deepened internal divisions, with National Chairman Julius Abure and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi each calling for separate National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
Abure’s camp, operating from the party’s national headquarters, announced its NEC meeting for Monday, 7 April 2025. In a terse press invitation issued by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the message was clear: the current leadership intends to uphold the party’s traditional structure and to continue the mandate it claims was legitimised by the recent legal pronouncement. This move is seen by many loyalists as an assertion of authority in the face of mounting challenges to Abure’s leadership.
Barely an hour after Abure’s announcement, a counter-move was launched by Peter Obi, in tandem with Abia State Governor Alex Otti. Their faction has scheduled a stakeholders’ summit on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The invitation, circulated by Obi’s spokesman Ibrahim Umar, calls for major party stakeholders—including serving and former senators, as well as House of Representatives members—to engage in what appears to be a bid for a renewed vision of the party’s future.
Political observers warn that the dual calls for NEC meetings underscore a deeply fractured party at a time when unity is desperately needed.
Critics argue that the split is not merely about differing interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment but is emblematic of an internal power struggle, with each faction seeking to sway supporter loyalty and secure control of the party’s future direction.
The competing gatherings are expected to trigger heated debates over the party’s constitution, its leadership structure, and the interpretation of the court’s mandate on internal party affairs.
As Nigeria braces for the outcome of these high-stakes meetings, the LP finds itself at a critical crossroads. The decisions taken in the coming days could redefine not only the leadership of the Labour Party but also set a precedent for how internal disputes are managed in the country’s political landscape.
More details are awaited as both camps prepare for what may well be a turning point in the party’s tumultuous history.
- Report by Osaigbovo Okungbowa, Atlantic Post Senior Political Correspondent
