Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that the internal leadership crisis plaguing the Labour Party (LP) has come to an end, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified Julius Abure’s recognition as the party’s national chairman.
Speaking during a televised interview, the governor said the party had successfully “fought and retrieved” its leadership structure from Abure, who, according to him, no longer holds a legitimate claim.
“We’ve fought hard and retrieved the Labour Party,” Otti said. “I will send you the Supreme Court judgment, and when you finish reading it, you will understand that Abure is just masturbating.” He emphasized that the judgment clarified the lack of jurisdiction by the Court of Appeal to affirm Abure’s position, thereby resolving the leadership tussle.
Otti also responded to Abure’s earlier statement that there was no vacuum in the party’s leadership. The governor dismissed the claim outright, insisting that Abure’s comments held no legal weight in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
While reflecting on his political alignment, Otti said he remained committed to the Labour Party, which he described as the platform that brought him to power. However, he noted that political allegiance is subject to change depending on future developments, stating, “I can’t say I wouldn’t leave the Labour Party; what if the party is non-existent tomorrow?”
He added that democracy allows for diversity in political affiliation and reaffirmed the importance of standing firm on principles rather than following the crowd, particularly referencing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
