The Abia State Government has strongly dismissed reports that Governor Alex Otti has been suspended from the Labour Party, describing the announcement by Julius Abure as “a joke taken too far” and “an affront on democracy”.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the State Government rejected the legitimacy of Abure’s claim to the leadership of the Labour Party, citing a Supreme Court ruling which it says invalidated his position as National Chairman.
“The statement by Abure and his gang of comedians is not only a joke taken too far, but an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda”, Ekeoma said.
He insisted that the apex court’s ruling aligns with the constitution of the Labour Party and laid the foundation for the establishment of a new leadership under the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.
“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 judgement stripped Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman”, the statement read.
According to the statement, Abure’s pronouncement came just hours after he was summoned by a committee of the caretaker leadership to answer to serious allegations, including financial misappropriation, impersonation, and anti-party activities.
“Just few hours after being summoned… 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”, Ekeoma said.
He called on law enforcement intervention and urged the Inspector General of Police to arrest Abure for impersonation as well as on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Supreme Court judgement.
“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”, the statement added.
Read the full statement 👇 👇 👇 👇
ALEGGED SUSPENSION OF GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI: ABURE IS A CLOWN IN DESPERATE SEARCH OF A CROWN The attention of His Excellency the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension alongside other eminent leaders of the Labour Party from the Party by the former National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure.
The statement by Abure and his gang of commedians is not only a joke taken too far, but an affront on democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self serving economic agenda.
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 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.
Ferdinand Ekeoma Special Adviser to the Governor (Media and Publicity) May 7, 2025.
