The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party deepened on Monday as the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee rejected reconciliation moves by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, describing the effort as insincere and premature.
The Abure faction insisted that the legal battle over the party’s leadership was far from over and accused Otti of being responsible for the crisis now tearing the party apart.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the reconciliation call and questioned its timing.
“We are not interested in any move by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to reconcile the party because he was the one who brought the crisis to the party in the first place,” Ifoh said.
This reconciliatory thing he is throwing around is of no use. What we just witnessed was a judgment by a court of first instance. Why can’t he wait for the outcome of the appeal before deciding on such a move?
“Why is he suddenly in a rush to call for reconciliation? As far as we are concerned, their celebration is a pyrrhic victory. It will soon die down, and Nigerians will behold the true leadership of the party. Let him know that the battle is not over.”
The hardline stance by the Abure camp highlights the depth of division within the party, despite recent court rulings and the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has recognised the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.
