LABOUR PARTY CRISIS: ABURE SLAMS ABIA GOVERNOR OTTI, CALLS HIM ‘CLUELESS’ OVER LEADERSHIP DISPUTE. (PHOTO).

 Labour Party Crisis: Abure Slams Abia Governor Otti, Calls Him ‘Clueless’ Over Leadership Dispute

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has launched a scathing attack on Abia State Governor Alex Otti, accusing him of ingratitude and misinformation amid the ongoing leadership crisis within the party. Speaking at an emergency National Executive Committee meeting at the LP secretariat in Abuja on Friday, Abure claimed Otti was “nothing” before the party provided him the platform to become governor.

Abure’s remarks were in response to Otti’s recent interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where the governor asserted that his faction had “retrieved” the party leadership from Abure. Otti had described Abure’s efforts to retain control as “masturbating” and referenced a Supreme Court judgment, which he claimed supported his position. “Today, we have fought and retrieved the Labour Party,” Otti said, adding that he could not rule out leaving the party if it became “non-existent.”

In a fiery rebuttal, Abure called Otti a “clueless” and “dwarfy” leader, both in appearance and knowledge, accusing him of using foul language and misrepresenting the Supreme Court’s ruling. “We made Governor Alex Otti, we supported him, made sacrifices, refused bribes, and denied offers for him to become the governor that he is today,” Abure stated, emphasizing the party’s role in Otti’s rise.

Abure clarified that the Supreme Court judgment described leadership disputes as a “domestic affair” of the party, governed by its constitution. He ridiculed Otti’s actions, including leading a group to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters to submit the court’s verdict, calling it a “disgraceful” attempt to intimidate INEC. “See how a whole governor belittled himself, carrying the Supreme Court CTC, because he thinks he can intimidate and harass INEC,” Abure said, describing Otti as a “jester” and a poor representation of the LP’s values.

The LP chairman expressed disappointment in Otti’s conduct, noting that the party had campaigned in 2023 on promises of producing principled leaders for a “new Nigeria.” “I want to say, clearly, that Otti is not a good representation of our party,” Abure declared, questioning the governor’s alignment with the party’s vision.