By Stephen Simon
Fresh Crisis Hits Labour Party as Abure, Otti Clash Over Nomination Forms
A fresh leadership crisis has erupted in the Labour Party after the factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, declared that aspirants with an interest in running for elective offices should pick up nomination forms for free in order to participate and be part of the process.
Abure, who spoke amid growing tensions, argued that the current crisis stemmed from what he described as the electoral commission’s volte-face. He claimed that the commission triggered internal divisions after it failed to recognise his leadership and instead supported the setting up of a caretaker committee.
The embattled chairman’s clarification came barely 24 hours after a fresh clash between Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and the party’s national leadership over the sale and legitimacy of nomination forms ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abure has been accused of acting in defiance of court rulings and the position of the electoral commission, as uncertainty continues to grow over the party’s recognised leadership.
The controversy was further fuelled by viral photographs showing Abure presenting Labour Party nomination forms to a former National Vice Chairman of the party, Ceekay Igara, and other members in Abia State.
In a swift reaction, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, warned aspirants and supporters against obtaining nomination forms from Abure, describing them as “worthless paper.”
Asogwa insisted that any aspirant who purchases forms from Abure’s faction does so at their own risk, as the party’s legitimate leadership remains the caretaker committee backed by the electoral commission.
