In the wake of the recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which officially recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, members aligned with this faction expressed their joy and celebration on Tuesday in Abia State.
The court’s decision has solidified Abure’s position, leading to a wave of jubilation among his supporters.
As the Abure faction celebrates this legal victory, they have also moved forward with their organizational activities, indicating that they have successfully sold nomination forms and conducted primary elections in preparation for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 2.
On the other side, the faction led by Emmanuel Nwaeze Otti, which is loyal to Governor Alex Otti and prominent figure Mr. Peter Obi, has also completed its own set of primary elections.
They assert that their primaries represent the authentic process of candidate selection within the party.
Investigations conducted by Newsmen have revealed that various aspirants for the factional chairmanship have emerged across multiple local government areas (LGAs).
However, tensions are evident, as seen in recent protests by some party members in Aba North. These members voiced their grievances over what they perceived as the imposition of a candidate by the leadership.
In an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday, Mr. Ceekay Igara, the former Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia, came forward to defend the actions of his faction regarding the sale of nomination forms.
He stated unequivocally that “any nomination form not issued by the Abure structure is not genuine.” Igara emphasized that his faction has also engaged in the sale of forms and has conducted its primaries.
“We also sold forms, conducted primaries and we are waiting for the National Executive Council of the party to give approval and then we submit to ABSIEC,” he added, citing Article 27, paragraphs 6 and 8 of the party’s official documents to bolster his claims.
Furthermore, Igara reflected on his political choices, expressing no regrets about his support for Governor Alex Otti during the gubernatorial elections of 2023.
In contrast, Nenadi Usman, the Chairperson of the LP Caretaker Committee, has announced her intention to challenge the Abuja High Court’s ruling.
She stated her committee’s commitment to appeal the judgment, demonstrating her determination to seek a different outcome. Additionally, Usman pledged to work towards reconciliation within the party, indicating her desire to unify the factions despite the ongoing disputes.
