…Says only Abia affected by injunction; party ready for 2027
By Our Correspondents
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party on Tuesday defied internal opposition to proceed with its nationwide ward congresses, boasting of a “huge success” across the federation, barring Abia State.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed the congresses held smoothly in all states except Abia, where an interim court injunction temporarily halted the process.
According to the party’s schedule, the ward congresses took place on Tuesday, December 2, with Local Government congresses scheduled for Thursday, December 4, and State congresses set for Saturday, December 6.
Ifoh explained that the Abia State High Court had restrained the party from proceeding in the state pending the determination of a suit filed against its leadership there.
“Though the party resolved to comply with the order — even though the court lacks the jurisdiction — the party’s legal department has already taken steps to vacate the order. This will enable Abia State to hold its own congress at a later date,” he said.
He added that supervision teams deployed by the national leadership returned positive reports on the conduct of the exercise nationwide, describing it as a key step in repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on Friday, November 28, and attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, had resolved to ensure leaders emerge democratically and in line with the electoral law and the constitution.
“Labour Party is therefore calling on Nigerians to embrace the party ahead of the 2027 general election. We are repositioning to improve on our capacity to drive the leadership of this great nation soonest,” Ifoh stated.
The statement, however, took a combative turn as it addressed what it termed “fifth columnists” within the party, accusing them of spreading falsehood to destabilise its unity.
“We are not unmindful of the activities of the fifth columnists planted in the party to create unnecessary friction and to destabilise the unity in the party. While some of them have repented and are being absorbed back into the party, some have nonetheless chosen to stay and continued to play out the script of their paymasters,” Ifoh said.
He issued a stern warning against the circulation of what he described as fake news, particularly claims that a court had cancelled the congresses nationwide.
“Publishing fake news that a court has cancelled the Labour Party Congresses nationwide, while knowing that it was done falsely and for the intent of causing panic amongst Nigerians, particularly Labour Party members, is a crime and can attract dire consequences,” he stated.
Ifoh cited Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act, which criminalises the publication of false statements likely to cause fear and alarm, and vowed to take legal action against offenders.
“We therefore warn these merchants of falsehood to desist from such shenanigans or we will have no option but to commit them to prison,” he added.
He emphasised the Abure leadership’s determination to move the party forward, stating that it had taken “the painful decision to move on, leaving behind anyone not willing to meet up with the pace.”
The congresses come amid a protracted internal crisis within the party, with a faction loyal to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and another associated with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, challenging Abure’s leadership.
The Otti faction had earlier claimed that a court injunction stopped the congresses nationwide, a claim the Abure camp has dismissed as false.
In a separate statement on Monday, Ifoh described the court order as applicable only to Abia State and accused the Nenadi Usman-led interim national working committee of “misinforming Nigerians.”
“They are misinforming Nigerians as usual. The interim order is only for Abia State,” he insisted.
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