‘You don’t represent the values of our party’ — Abure knocks Otti over comments on LP leadership dispute

Julius Abure, factional national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has berated Alex Otti, governor of Abia, over his comments on the party’s leadership crisis.

Earlier on Friday, Otti said the LP caretaker committee had reclaimed the party from Abure’s control, accusing him of “masturbating” over claims of still being in charge.

“When you go through the supreme court judgment, you will know that Abure is just masturbating. He is out,” the Abia governor told Arise TV.

However, speaking at an emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting of his faction in Abuja, Abure accused Otti of promoting impunity and undermining the party that elevated him to power.

The LP factional chairman said it was necessary to address Otti’s comments so that the governor would not assume he has the monopoly on public commentary.

He added that his leadership played a key role in the emergence of Otti as governor of Abia.

“As mature leaders of this party who believe in the development of this country, we made them,” Abure said.

“Without sounding immodest, we made Governor Alex Otti. We supported him, made sacrifices, and rejected bribes and offers, just so he could become the governor he is today.

“Yet today, he goes on national television to misinform the public about the supreme court judgment.

“My major concern was his foul language, saying he was laughing at us for holding on to the party leadership and ‘masturbating’ over it.

“Dwarfy and Lilliputian men were once considered men of great ideas. But Alex Otti is not only dwarfy in appearance — he is dwarfy in knowledge.”

Abure said the apex court verdict clearly affirmed that party leadership issues are internal and governed by the party’s constitution.

He described Otti as a “cricket” and expressed disappointment that the governor took the court judgment to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“It is clear. When the supreme court says leadership is a domestic affair of the party, what does it mean?” Abure asked.

“Even a layman knows that the party’s constitution is supreme. For him to go on national TV today, after parading himself like a cricket to INEC, is disgraceful.

“See how a whole governor reduced himself to carrying the supreme court CTC, thinking he could intimidate and harass INEC.

“But we know INEC is a civilised institution guided by law and procedure.

“I want to state clearly that Otti does not represent the values of our party. We told Nigerians in 2023 that the Labour Party would produce leaders who are different. We said a new Nigeria is possible. But today, what are we seeing?”.

The Abure-led faction also announced the constitution of a five-member disciplinary committee to investigate alleged anti-party activities by the Abia governor and other erring members.

The committee has been given two weeks to submit its report.

The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Abure and his faction on one hand, and the caretaker committee led by Nnenadi Usman on the other.

The Usman committee is supported by Peter Obi, the party’s ex-presidential candidate, and Otti.

Last month, the supreme court ruled that the court of appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure as the chairman of the LP.

Since the verdict, there have been various interpretations of the apex court’s ruling, with all factions claiming victory.

Lamidi Apapa has also laid claim to the chairmanship of the party.