The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took another dimension on Wednesday with the suspension of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over alleged anti-party activities.
The party also announced the suspension of five of its elected lawmakers in the National Assembly for the same reason given above.
The suspended lawmakers include: Senator Ireti Kingibe; Senator Darlington Nwokocha; Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; Hon. Amobi Ogah, and Hon. Seyi Sowunmi.
The National Secretary of the Julius Abure led faction, Umar Farouk Ibrahim announced their suspension in a statement on Wednesday.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had on May 2 set up a five-man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi; Ibrahim, the National Secretary, and three others to investigate Governor Otti and any other party members over allegations of anti-party activities.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded its assignment and has submitted its 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.
“Dr. Alex Otti; Senator Ireti Kingibe; Senator Darlington Nwokocha; Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; Hon. Amobi Ogah; Hon. Seyi Sowunmi. By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions, including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC, and security agencies, among others, are to take note,” the statement said.
The party said the name of the caretaker committee chairman set up by the former presidential candidate of the party Peter Obi led faction, Nenadi Usman was omitted from the list of the suspended members because she is not a member of the party.
The statement added: “It will surprise Nigerians and party faithful that the name of one Nenadi Usman was conspicuously omitted from the list of the suspended members of the party. First, we have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party, being not a card-carrying member of the Party. We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction, being not a member of the party.
“Again, we are aware that Ms Usman recently in a well-televised occasion, in cohort with a former Kaduna state governor, joined another political party where she pledged loyalty to the party. We are confused about where Usman Nenadi’s loyalty lies.
“The party leadership is also surprised that Nenadi Usman is talking about corruption when indeed she is the headmistress of corruption. Nigerians are already aware of all the EFCC cases against her, and we expect Ms Usman to come out and explain to Nigerians the story behind her Plea Bargain with EFCC and all the properties she allegedly forfeited. She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption.
“In any event, the party’s financial records are straight, and it will interest the members of the public to know that the party’s audited accounts have been published. INEC, being the regulatory body, sent their external auditors to audit the party’s account, and they gave a clean report and also commended the party for its financial transparency. It is on record that among the comity of Political Parties in Nigeria, the Labour Party’s financial records were adjudged to be among the best.
“Finally, the party has since taken a position on the issue of coalition, and we want to reiterate that the party is not interested in any overtures by any group or persons to go into any coalition or merger. Like we have earlier stated, the protagonists of the coalition, those driving the agenda, lack the capacity, the character, and competence to midwife such a political arrangement. These are people who have failed to manage one political party; how can they manage an amalgam of political parties and their varied interests? The Labour Party intends to prosecute the 2027 general election as a stand-alone party, and no further discussion will be entertained on this matter.”
