The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has suspended Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over alleged anti-party activities.
According to a 9am News report, the indefinite suspension was announced on Wednesday by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, National Secretary of the Abure-led LP faction.
Other suspended figures include Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
Farouk revealed that the decision followed recommendations from a five-member disciplinary committee chaired by Ayo Olorunfemi, the party’s Deputy National Chairman. The committee was inaugurated on May 2 to investigate alleged anti-party behavior among the affected members.
Farouk stated that the party’s national executive committee had ratified the committee’s recommendations.
“The suspended individuals will no longer act for and on behalf of the party,” he said. He further called on institutions such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly, INEC, and security agencies to take note of the suspension.
Addressing why Nenadi Usman, Chair of the LP caretaker committee, was not suspended, Farouk clarified that Usman is not a registered member of the Labour Party.
“We are aware she is part of the Obidient Support Group that worked for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction, being not a member of the party,” Farouk added.
The statement also made clear the faction’s rejection of ongoing efforts to form a coalition of opposition parties. Farouk said the Abure-led LP is not interested in joining such a coalition, describing its initiators as lacking “the capacity, character, and competence” to lead a united opposition.
The Labour Party is currently split into two factions: the Abure-led group and a caretaker faction led by Nenadi Usman.
Earlier, the Usman-led faction had set up a panel chaired by Senator Kingibe to investigate Abure on allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and anti-party activities.
At a separate press conference, Usman accused Abure of “persistently parading himself as national chairman of the party despite being removed” by the Supreme Court.
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