Governor Alex Otti Asks IGP To Arrest Julius Abure For Impersonation

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has called on Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Julius Abure, factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

This follows the announcement by Abure’s faction of the Labour Party on Wednesday that it had suspended Otti and several other key party members.

Apart from Otti, other LP members suspended includes FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe and lawmakers Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.

In a statement by Otti’s media adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor dismissed the suspension as “a ridiculous move” and an attack on democratic principles.

He accused Abure and his allies of using his name for personal gain and described them as “irrelevant opportunists.”

Alex Otti also pointed to a Supreme Court ruling that he says confirmed Abure is no longer the party’s national chairman.

“For the records, the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of Labour Party,” the statement reads.

“The judgement which is in agreement with the Constitution of Labour Party, and formed the basis for the setting up of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee, stripped Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

“Just few hours after being summoned by a Committee Set up by the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee to come and respond to allegations of gross misconduct bordering on financial misappropriation, impersonation and anti Party activities levelled against him, Abure decided to be smart by half by rushing to the press to announce the purported suspension of Governor Otti and other eminent members of the party.

“We enjoin Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.

“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly arrest Mr. Abure for impersonation, while INEC should ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court judgement as a way of preserving the integrity of the Supreme Court and protecting our democracy.”

The Labour Party has been facing an internal leadership battle. The crisis pits Abure’s camp against the caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, which is backed by prominent figures like Peter Obi and Otti.

Although the Supreme Court recently ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to declare Abure the party’s chairman, different factions continue to interpret the ruling in their favor.

Meanwhile, Lamidi Apapa is also claiming leadership of the party.

On May 2, Julius Abure’s group formed a disciplinary committee to investigate certain members for alleged anti-party activities.

KanyiDaily recalls that Senator Nenadi Usman’s group had launched an investigation into Julius Abure over claims of misconduct, corruption, misuse of party funds, and anti-party activities.