By John Alechenu
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP), has thrown open the contest for all of its tickets for the 2027 general elections.
This was sequel to its decision to nullify a resolution taken at the party’s national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 27, 2024.
The party had announced that its 2027 Presidential ticket and that of the Abia State Governorship, have been reserved for Mr. Peter Obi, and Alex Otti, respectively.
The LP NEC meeting which was chaired by the LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, resolved to jettison the arrangement at a meeting, in Abuja, yesterday.
NEC also disowned the Senator Nanedi Usman-led 29 member Interim Committee set up to steer the affairs of the party for 90 days.
The NEC resolution read in part: “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 tickets of the party from Presidency to the House of assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.
“The NEC in session after reviewing the purported Stakeholders meeting held in Umuaiha Abia State condemned the conveners of the meetings and thereafter disassociate itself from the outcome of the so-called stakeholders meeting in Umuaiha Abia State, where the National Working Committee, the National Executive Council, State Council, Local Government and Ward Executives of the party were purportedly dissolved and a so-called Caretaker Committee was set up.
“The NEC in session note that the Governor of Abia State His Excellency Alex Otti who convened the meeting do not have the power within the Party’s Constitution as provided in Article 14 (4) (B) gives power to call meetings only to the National Secretary with the approval of National Chairman.
“NEC in session further reiterate that Governor of Abia State do 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.
“(2) The Commission may, with or without prior notice to the political party attend and observe any convention, congress, conference or meeting which is convened by a political party for the purpose of –
(a) electing members of its executive committees or other governing bodies
“Article 17 of the Labour Party Constitution provides how members of the National Working Committee, State Executive Committee and all other officials of the party can be removed, For the avoidance of doubt, Article 17 of our Party Constitution provides as follows;
“I. The National Chairman of the Party may be suspended or removed from office on a vote of No Confidence passed by at last two-thirds majority at a National Convention convened solely for the consideration only of such motion.
“II. Any other National officer(s) of the Party may be removed by 2/3 majority of votes cast by members at a Convention or National Executives Council.
“III. The State Officer(s) may be removed by 2/3 majority of votes by the State Congress.
IV. The Local Government Officer(s) may be removed by 2/3 majority of votes cast by the LGA Congress.
The LP NEC equally condemned in strong terms the conveners of the meeting in Abia State whom they alleged dwelt in illegality. It also threatened to take disciplinary action against them.
While dissociating itself from the conveners as well as the outcome of the meeting, the NEC in session declared that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party.
It noted that the national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on March 27, 2024, was convened in accordance with laid down regulations as such the tenure of elected members of the National Working Committee The Party has conducted its National is still valid and that a court of competent jurisdiction has upheld it.
The party urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to desist from promoting illegality by claiming that Abure’s tenure had expired.
The NEC Meeting was attended by members of the National Working Committee, National officers of the party, State Chairmen and Secretaries, Stakeholders of the party and other co-opted members of the National Executive Council provided by Article 13 (A) of the Party Constitution.
The resolutions were signed and made public by the party’s National Chairman and Secretary, Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim respectively. (Vanguard)
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