THE NATION
The Labour Party (LP) has sank deeper into crisis.
Yesterday, the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee (NEC), which rejected the caretaker committee constituted to organize congress, withdrew the 2027 automatic presidential ticket reserved for Mr. Peter Obi and the governorship ticket for Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Obi, former governor of Anambra State and symbol of the ‘Obedient Movement, ‘ was the party’s candidate in last year’s election.
The chairman said the ticket will now be open to other aspirants.
Abure, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after NEC meeting, chided Otti for convening what he described as illegal stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, capital of Abia State.
He vowed to continue to function as national chairman, stressing that the setting up of a National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Esther Usman Nnenadi was a nullity.
Currently, the caretaker panel is not operating from the national party secretariat because Abure and the other NWC members are staying put. They are operating from a makeshift office, a source said.
The caretaker committee was given the mandate to organize elections into party offices from ward to the national level within 90 days.
During its national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, LP had adopted Obi as its presidential candidate and Otti as its governorship flagbearer for 2027 elections.
But Abure said the 2027 presidential ticket was now open to all qualified Nigerians.
He said: “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 party tickets from the Presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.”
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