The Labour Party’s final campaign rally in Edo State ahead of the September 21 governorship election was overshadowed by deepening internal divisions. Party stalwarts, including Peter Obi, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, Nenadi Usman, and Aisha Yesufu, gathered in a show of support for the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata. However, conspicuously absent from the event were embattled National Chairman Julius Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC), signalling a widening rift at the top of the party’s leadership.
In an escalating war of words, the Abure faction of the party held a press conference in Abuja, accusing Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of betraying the party’s leadership. The group, led by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, condemned the recent appointment of a caretaker committee, chaired by former Minister Nenadi Usman, calling it a “fraudulent move” designed to undermine Abure’s leadership.
Ifoh’s sharp rebuke came with serious allegations, suggesting that Obi and Otti had collaborated with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to unseat Abure and his allies. “Rather than standing by the party in its time of need, these leaders have betrayed us, openly dancing to the tune of INEC,” Ifoh remarked, invoking the viral folk song ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ by highlife artist Mike Ejeagha to underscore the perceived betrayal.
The roots of the discord trace back to the March 2024 National Convention, whose legitimacy has been questioned by INEC. The electoral body recently filed a counter-affidavit stating that Abure’s tenure had expired, justifying the recognition of the Usman-led caretaker committee. This move has further fuelled tensions, with Abure’s camp dragging INEC to court in an attempt to block the decision.
Ifoh expressed deep frustration at what he sees as a betrayal of trust by Obi and Otti. “The same leaders who once sought refuge in this party, when abandoned by their previous political platforms, are now colluding with INEC to dismantle the very structure that stood by them through thick and thin,” he said. He recalled how the Labour Party leadership fought to secure Otti’s governorship victory in Abia State, weathering intense political and judicial pressure to protect the party’s interests.
Ifoh went on to accuse INEC of actively destabilising the party. “We’ve all seen the role INEC played during the 2023 general election, failing to protect the people’s will. It is astonishing that those who suffered from INEC’s ineptitude are now aligning with them to undermine the party’s leadership,” he added, warning of the consequences of relying on the electoral commission for legitimacy.
As the Labour Party prepares for the crucial Edo State election, the internal conflict threatens to overshadow the campaign and potentially weaken the party’s performance. For Ifoh and his faction, the stakes are high, with the outcome of their legal battle against INEC set to shape the future of the party’s leadership.
