GOV. OTTI COMMENDS INEC FOR RECOGNIZING NENADI USMAN AS LABOUR PARTY LEADER. (PHOTO).

 Gov. Otti Commends INEC for Recognizing Nenadi Usman as Labour Party Leader

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognizing Senator Nenadi Usman as the authentic leader of the Labour Party, describing the decision as a “welcome development” and “long overdue.”

Speaking exclusively in Umuahia through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to INEC and other government agencies for upholding the Supreme Court’s judgment on the party’s leadership. “We are grateful to INEC and all government agencies that played a role in ensuring that the Supreme Court’s judgment was finally respected,” he said.

Otti highlighted that INEC’s action aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which confirmed that Julius Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired, rendering him ineligible to impose himself as the party’s leader. “What INEC did is to ensure that order, normalcy, peace, cohesion, and togetherness are restored,” Otti stated.

The governor emphasized that the decision paves the way for reconciliation and rebuilding within the Labour Party. “With what has happened, we begin the process of reconciliation and restoration and head in the right direction. Members are enthusiastic and want our party to be peaceful and work like a family,” he added.

Otti urged Abure and his supporters to embrace peace and join progressive members in efforts to strengthen the party. “If they are desirous of moving our party forward, they should join hands with all the progressives to ensure we get to the right direction,” he said.

He noted that the Supreme Court, as the highest court in the land, had clearly ruled against Abure’s leadership, and INEC’s decision to respect this judgment was in line with legal expectations. “Abure didn’t need to wait for INEC to act, but since he did, INEC has now respected the Supreme Court’s judgment, and we are happy,” Otti remarked.

While acknowledging that Abure and his group may have erred, Otti expressed hope that they would desist from causing confusion and work with the party’s leadership to move forward. “The leadership will decide their fate, but if they are progressives, they should join hands to advance the Labour Party,” he concluded.