Labour Party Civil War Deepens: Abure Faction Begs Tinubu to Rein in Governor Alex Otti
Date: 14 May 2025 | By: IDNN Politics
The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has escalated into a full-blown political war, with the Julius Abure-led faction accusing Abia State Governor Alex Otti of tyranny and sabotage.
In a fiery press conference on Monday in Abuja, the faction’s Secretary Umar Farouk called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and “restrain Governor Otti from destroying the Labour Party.”
Farouk alleged that Otti had repeatedly ordered the arrest of party officials and described the governor as “a clown who was made by a king,” referring to Abure.
“Otti Was Nothing Before Abure — Now He Calls Him a Clown?”
Citing past tensions, Farouk slammed Otti’s media jabs at the National Chairman, saying:
“As of 2022, when Otti joined Labour Party after being rejected by virtually every other political party, Abure was already the National Chairman — a king who made Otti what he is today.”
He alleged that Otti now refers to Abure as a clown, despite benefiting from the party structure in his 2023 gubernatorial bid.
The faction claimed that since his victory, Otti has failed to support the National Working Committee, describing his inauguration as a “one-chance experience” for party leaders.
Accusations of Threats, Arrests & Power Grab
Farouk revealed that Otti:
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Orchestrated the arrest of National Vice Chairman Ceekay Igara
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Detained Abia State LP Chairman Prince Ndubeze
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Allegedly issued threats at Transcorp Hilton meetings
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Repeatedly challenged the NWC’s authority
The group believes Otti’s actions are aimed at weakening the LP ahead of the 2027 elections, possibly as part of a decampment plan.
Supreme Court Didn’t Sack Abure — Faction Clarifies
Farouk emphasized that no court — including the Supreme Court — has ruled against Abure’s chairmanship.
“The court ruled that internal leadership issues are not justiciable. That means Otti and his allies have no legal ground to seize control.”
The faction warned of a deliberate scheme to stifle the party and erode internal democracy, urging party faithful and Nigerians to resist the manipulation.
📸 Graphic Caption: Labour Party’s leadership battle intensifies as Abure faction slams Governor Otti, calls for President Tinubu’s intervention to halt alleged tyranny.
Tags: Labour Party Crisis, Julius Abure, Alex Otti, Political Intrigue, Party Leadership, Internal Democracy