Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party, Wednesday, took a sudden twist following the indefinite suspension slammed on Governor Alex Otti of Abia State by the Julius Abure-led faction of the party.
Suspended along with the Abia Governor were the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senators Darlington Nwokocha; and Ireti Kingibe, over alleged anti-party activities.
Others affected by the suspension are House of Representatives members Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowumi.
According to the National Executive Council, NEC of the Abure-led faction, the action follows the recommendations of a five-member disciplinary committee set up on May 2, 2025, to investigate allegations of disloyalty and conduct deemed contrary to party interests.
National Secretary of the faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, in a statement, said “the suspension takes immediate effect and bars the affected individuals from engaging in any Labour Party-related activities.”
The statement read: “Recall that last Friday, 2nd of May 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party set up a Five man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr.Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary and three others to investigate Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti and any other party members over allegations of anti party activities.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded their assignment and has submitted their report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today May 7th, 2025 and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution has ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect. 1. Dr. Alex Otti; 2. Senator Ireti Kingibe; 3. Senator Darlington Nwokocha; 4. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; 5. Hon. Amobi Ogah; 6. Hon. Seyi Sowunmi.”
Recall that Otti and Abure had been engrossed in a war of words in the recent times.
Otti in a recent television interview, dismissed Abure’s claims as the national chairman of the party as political masturbation, insisting that the party has been rescued from him following the supreme court judgment that recognized Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee of the party.
Abure fired back by describing the Governor as dwarf in height and intellect.
