LP Crisis Deepens as Gov Otti, Peter Obi, Elect Nenadi Usman as Caretaker Chair; Abure Rejects Move

The protracted crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a deeper dimension as the sole governor of the party, Dr. Alex Otti and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined others to elect ex-minister of finance, Mrs Nenadi Usman, as caretaker Chairman of the party.

Mr Daniel Gambo, member of national transition committee formed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday.

He said Usman was elected to chair the party’s 29-member national caretaker committee.

The meeting held at the Banquet Hall of Abia Government House, Umuahia, the state capital, on Wednesday.

It was convened by Governor Otti and was attended by Peter Obi; and Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, among others.

“The stakeholders met at the Banquet hall of Abia state government house during which Hon. Senator Nenadi Usman was unanimously nominated to chair the newly constituted LP caretaker committee to see to the conduct of state congresses and the all inclusive national convention. The secretary is Hon Darlington Onwokocha,” Gambo said.

He also said that the house endorsed the constitution of 29 member committee drawn from the senate, house of representatives, the six geopolitical zones, NLC and TUC.

Meanwhile, the embattled national chairman of the LP, Barrister Julius Abure, has rejected the emergence of Nenadi.

Abure who dismissed the Abia meeting insisted he remains the legitimate national chairman of the party.

A statement signed by the national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described Nenadi Usman’s appointment as illegal and unconstitutional.

“We firmly believe in the leadership of our National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure and the National Working Committee and remain committed to working together with them as a united and focused party to achieve our common goals and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Nigeria,” he said.

He said the premise on which Governor Otti called the meeting is not only faulty but mischievous.

“Government business is not transacted verbally but through official communication and correspondences which are done in writing. As we speak, there is no communication whatsoever from INEC to the Party as regards any objection to the conduct of the National Convention.

“We challenge Alex Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from INEC on the subject matter. There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Party. Consequently, the so-called caretaker committee set up by the Governor of Abia State is not known to the constitution of the Party and can best be described as a department in Abia State Government House.

“We are shocked to note that the so-called chairman of the caretaker committee is not a registered member of the Party. She surfaced during the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign to assist Peter Obi in his campaign,” Ifoh said.