Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has publicly accused former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of being the root cause of the ongoing leadership crisis within the party. Abure’s faction, which is recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintains that the party was united until Obi and Otti established a caretaker committee while Abure's tenure was still valid.
The accusations come amid deep factional divisions within the LP, with Obi and Otti blaming the Federal Government, led by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for infiltrating and destabilizing the party. However, Abure’s camp strongly denies any involvement or collusion with the APC, challenging Obi to provide concrete evidence of government interference.
This internal conflict has persisted since the 2023 general elections and has seen several factions vying for control and legitimacy within the party. The Abure faction holds that Obi's leadership failures and Otti's suspension for anti-party activities have exacerbated the party’s troubles.
Despite the turmoil, Obi’s supporters remain loyal and continue to mobilize around the caretaker leadership. The crisis presents a significant challenge for the Labour Party as it prepares for the 2027 elections, with both reconciliation and further discord shaping its future trajectory.