‘I Am Disappointed, But Not Surprised’ – Peter Obi Tackles Embattled LP Chairman Over Cancellation Of Automatic Tickets

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi has addressed recent betrayal allegations made by Barrister Julius Abure, the party’s troubled national chairman.

The Embattled factional chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure on Monday during a press conference explained why his faction of the party reversed itself on an automatic ticket for Mr Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.

The Abure-led NEC also in the same vein, said that the automatic ticket promised Governor Alex Otti, the party’s only governor has also been revoked.He cited constitutional provisions which stipulate that positions in the party should be open to all Nigerians.

.The move came after Alex Otti and Peter Obi organized a party stakeholders meeting in Abia last week calling for a new convention to elect new party leaders. The move was on the claim that Abure’s tenure has expired and his NEC was not recognized by INEC.Abure described the meeting led by Otti and Obi at Abia state as a “betrayal” and “divisionary,” aimed at installing “new leadership” without the National Executive Council’s authority or consent.

the meeting led by Otti and Obi in Abia state on Wednesday produced Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the new Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party.At the Abure-led NEC meeting on Monday, the committee changed its previous stance regarding the automatic tickets for Peter Obi and Alex Otti for the 2027 elections.

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In response, Obi, through his spokesperson Comrade Ibrahim Umar from the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), expressed disappointment in Abure’s accusations. Umar labeled the claims as politically motivated and suggested they were designed to mislead the public.“I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the false accusations of betrayal label against our principal Mr. Peter Obi by Julius Abure, the Embattled national chairman of the party. It is clear that this is a politically motivated attempt to mislead the public.

“The stakeholders meeting of the LP held at Umuahia, on Wednesday, was meant to resolve the lingering leadership crisis and chart a way forward. The decision was not in anyway personal.

“Therefore the Obidient Movement stands in total solidarity with the actions and decisions of the stakeholders, which have always been guided by a commitment to unity, justice and transparency,” Umar said.

Umar further criticized Abure for misleading the public and defaming Obi’s character. He questioned Abure’s resistance to leaving his position, which was supposed to end in June, and his readiness to engage in conflict.

He said, “Simply because he intervened for Justice? His (Abure) tenure ended in June, but he refused to leave the stage, and also vowed that he is ready to fight. Who is he fighting? We understand his desperation for power, but it’s high time for him to put the interest of the party over his personal interest.

“We will not engage in name calling and character assassination. Instead, we call on Julius Abure to accept the outcome of the intervention by Mr Peter Obi and Gov Alex Otti which aimed to resolve any misunderstandings, and chart a way forward.”