Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, has announced that the party’s 2027 presidential ticket is now open to all members.

Abure made this declaration during a press briefing following the party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Monday.

This development indicates a shift from previous expectations that the ticket would be reserved for Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

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.”

Abure also ruled out an automatic second-term ticket for the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, on the party’s platform, saying that the seat will be open to other aspirants.

The chairman added that the Abia governor does not have the power to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that produced a caretaker committee led by a former Senator, Nenadi Usman.

He added, “The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives the power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman.

“NEC in session further reiterates that the Governor of Abia State does not even have the power to call his Ward Executive meeting without the approval and the consent of his Ward Chairman.

“The meeting contravenes the provisions of Section 82 (1) (2) (a) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides as follows: 82 (1) Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting convened for the purpose of ‘merger’ and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

Speaking further, Abure said no governor could harass them out of office, adding that such a person cannot dissolve the National Working Committee, dissolve state councils, or dissolve local government councils.

He said, “No governor that we gave ticket can harass us out of office; no governor, no matter how highly placed, will come and with a fiat, dissolve the NWC, dissolve state councils, or dissolve LG councils; even a military government would not do that. The mandate given to me and my team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention of the party held on the 27th day of March 2024, will be defended.

“We are at a critical moment in the life of our party. Recent events have shown that those who should stand with us in the fight for a better restructured, organized and united party have chosen a different path.

“A path not of unity, but of division. I speak, of course, of the illegal gathering that took place in Abia State, an attempt to create a rift within our party, led by none other than His Excellency Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti. This meeting, held without the authority or consent of the National Executive Council, sought to install a so-called ‘new leadership’.

“Let me be clear: this action was not just illegal. It was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for. A reward for loyalty with ingratitude, a reward for support with insubordination.”

Edwin Clark, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to arrest Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Clark’s request follows Wike’s comment at a Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress in August: “I will put fire in the states of governors siding with Siminalayi Fubara, the governor.”

Wike and Fubara have been at odds over Rivers State issues, causing a rift in the Rivers House of Assembly with two factions electing speakers loyal to each.

In an open letter, “Arrest Wike Now With a Warrant of Arrest,” Clark stated: “Wike has gone overboard in his macabre dance.”

“As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course,” he said.

“If you could in the past arrest Omoyele Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?

“My dear IG, at well over 97 years of age, and having held various positions in government including being a Minister over 50 years ago, I am shocked that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level.

“When we worked under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, in the Federal Executive Council, the code of conduct which we were expected to keep especially as it pertained to being instruments of public order was at the highest level.

“There is nothing that Wike has not done in his attempt to sabotage the government of Siminalayi Fubara and install the former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, his brother, as Governor.

“But all have failed.”

Clark said Wike should not be allowed to change the rules of the party arbitrarily because of his feud with Fubara who is the leader of the PDP in Rivers.

The Labour Party has announced a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Finance Minister, Senator Nenadi Usman.

Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, will serve as Secretary.

The committee’s formation was resolved at the Party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Umuahia.

According to Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku: “The Terms of Reference of the Committee include, ‘ensuring the conduct of Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and National Convention as soon as possible and in accordance with the Constitution of the Labour Party’.”

The caretaker committee is tasked with organizing elections for new party leadership within 90 days.

Other members representing various interest groups including NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election.

The meeting equally commended Governor Alex Otti for his leadership in hosting the meeting and enjoined members of the party to support the Caretaker Committee to achieve its mandates.

The resolution named other members of the Committee to include 3 Senators, 4 members of House of Representatives, 3 members from States House of Assembly, 3 members from the Nigeria Labour Congress, 3 members from the Trade Union Congress, 3 members from the Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election among others.

The Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, said that the meeting was convened to deal with the existential problems confronting the party and chart a way forward for the Party.

He noted that the tenure of the National working Committee of the Party headed by Bar. Julius Abure had elapsed since 10th of June 2024 and called on all stakeholders of the party to join forces together to resolve every internal problems of the party.

Governor Otti said that the overall interest of all Labour Party Stakeholders is the survival of the party and not necessarily the composition of the NWC as far as it is constitutionally composed.

Also Speaking, the National Leader of the party and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said that all they are doing is to follow the guidelines established by law to save the party from total collapse.

He noted that Labour Party being the third largest party in Nigeria has the potential of being the brightest if things are put in the right perspective and urged members of the party to give the caretaker Committee the needed support to enable it succeed in its assignments.

Responding on behalf of members of the caretaker Committee, the Chairman, Senator Usman thanked the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders for finding them fit for the task and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.

Highlights of the meeting was the reaffirmation of the solid confidence in the leadership of the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and the resolution that all members with legal case against the party should withdraw same for the overall interest of the party.