Court Affirms Emmanuel Otti Legitimate Abia LP Chairman, Blocks Abure Faction

An Abia State High Court sitting in Ukwa has restrained the faction loyal to Barrister Julius Abure from interfering in the party’s affairs in the state.

In a ruling, the court affirmed Emmanuel Otti as the authentic Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia State, declaring that his suspension by the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) was illegal, unconstitutional, and of no legal effect.

The court ruled that the 2024 Constitution of the party on which the Abure faction relied to effect the suspension of Otti, has not been recognised or ratified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.

Accordingly, the court barred Prince G.O. Ndubueze, who emerged from the Abure camp, from parading himself as the state chairman or interfering with Otti’s leadership.

It would be recalled that the Abure-led NWC last month announced the suspension of prominent party figures, including Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti, LP senators Ireti Kingibe and Darlington Nwokocha, and federal lawmakers Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi, citing alleged anti-party activities.

In response, the Nenadi Usman-led National Consultative Committee (NCC) aligned with Otti and the 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.

The committee dismissed the suspensions as baseless and initiated disciplinary measures against Abure.

The NCC gave Abure 48 hours to cease parading himself as national chairman, citing a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which, according to them, nullified Abure’s claim to the party’s leadership.

“The apex court clearly ended Abure’s tenure,” said former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, who chairs the NCC.

“His continued impersonation of the office of National Chairman is illegal and undermines the party’s integrity,” she added.

The NCC accused Abure of misconduct and inaugurated a special committee to probe his actions during his time in office.

The committee passed a vote of confidence in both Governor Otti and Mr Obi, describing them as pillars of the party’s future.

Court Affirms Emmanuel Otti Legitimate Abia LP Chairman, Blocks Abure Faction is first published on The Whistler Newspaper