The labour Party’s internal crisis has taken a dramatic turn as National Chairman Julius Abure announced that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, its only sitting governor, will no longer receive automatic tickets for the 2027 elections.
This decision comes after Abure’s leadership was challenged by Otti and Obi, who convened a stakeholders meeting in Abia state, calling for a new convention to elect party leaders.
Abure described the meeting as ‘betrayal and divisionary’ aimed at installing new leadership without the National Executive Council’s (NEC) authority. In response, the Abure-led NEC has opened up the nominations for the 2027 elections to all candidates, reversing its previous stance on automatic tickets for Obi and Otto.
In a significant shift, the INEC has now declared that these nomination’s will be open to all interested candidates, signalling a more competitive and transparent selection process within the party for the forthcoming elections.
This development follows a contentious period within the party, with Abure’s tenure and NEC recognition disputed by the independent NationalElectoral Commission (INEC) .The move sets the stage for a potentially contentious party convention, as factions within the Labour Party vie for control and influence.
On Monday, news emerging from a close door meeting by the Abure Led NEC, the committee changed its previous stance regarding Peter Obi and Alex Otti for the 2027 elections. The NEC has now announced that these nominations will be open to all candidates.
Ayobo/IpajaTV.com 