Politics
LP crisis: Omar threatens to flush out Abure
The Labour Party (LP) leadership tussle deepened yesterday as its National Transition Committee (LPNTC) insisted that the national chairman, Julius Abure, must resign.
The labour leaders, who stormed the venue of the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja, said the tenure of Abure and others members of the NWC would expire by month end.
The meeting was convened by LP presidential candidate in last year’s election, Peter Obi.
As the labour leaders attempted to enter the venue, the police fired teargas to disperse them.
Transition Committee Chairman Comrade Abdulwahed Omar said it is “either we find our way forward or we make our way forward.”
Omar, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said: “The issue at hand is that the tenures of Abure and the National Working Committee had expired by the end of this month. And there can not be a vacuum in leadership.
“We have tried to do it peacefully. As much as possible, if we can resolve this issue without fighting, that will be good. But from what we have witnessed today, it appears certainly, that it is either we find our way forward or we make our way forward. This I assure you.”
He added: “We will not tolerate lawlessness, but if anybody decides to be lawless because he has power to pay and subvert our efforts, I want to assure that we are also capable of doing whatever anybody can do. We can do more.”
Omar said the committee has been given the mandate by stakeholders to organise a new and an all-inclusive national convention.
Obi, who addressed the labour leaders outside the party secretariat, said he convened the meeting to reconcile aggrieved party members.
He urged the party leaders to reconcile aggrieved party members and supporters.
Obi said every discord within the party would be addressed in no distant time.
He said party leaders must sit at a table and decide the future of the party.
Obi said the reconciliation between the party and its estranged former leaders, led by former Deputy National Chairman (South), Lamidi Apapa ,was a welcome development.
He said: “Let me tell you one thing; their reconciliation is all about our party and I can assure you that everyone must reconcile with each other.
“During our meeting before we learnt that our people were outside, I told them that my first assignment was reconciliation, my second assignment was reconciliation and my third assignment, reconciliation.
“I can tell you that what you witnessed earlier is a normal thing in our lives. I do the same thing. It is what I do every day, even in our families. When we quarrel with our wives and children, we reconcile. Even today, during the meeting, I made one instance which is that I have come to start the work of reconciling the family.”
Obi added: “So, these people here are members of the family who we must reconcile with. We are going to sit down around a table and decide the future of our party. I am ready for a reconciliation meeting any day you choose.
“And I like what happened here today. This means we have just started the reconciliation process and what we achieved today was so much, as I told you sometimes it happens in my house and I allow it because that is the only way I know how mature my children have become.”
Abure, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, expressed satisfaction with the leadership roles Obi has been playing in the party.
He said: “Labour Party is happy with your reconciliation project and we will give you all the supports. We are not the aggressor here, we have always wanted peace because we can’t go into future elections with a divided loyalty.
“We have said that we are focused on 2027, that is why we are the only party that has produced its candidate for the 2027 presidential election. We know where we are going and we have refused to be distracted. We will definitely get to our destination of giving Nigerians a better nation.”
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are expected to convene in Ibadan, Oyo State, on April 13 and 14, 2025, to deliberate on the party’s future and the possibility of forming a broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This meeting comes at a crucial time, as calls grow louder for opposition parties to unite in challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, internal divisions and differing agendas among prominent PDP figures have reportedly hindered meaningful progress in coalition talks.
A major item on the agenda will be whether the PDP should pursue strategic partnerships with other opposition parties or focus on repositioning itself as a standalone political force.
Sources within the party indicate that while several governors are in favor of an alliance, internal disagreements have made it difficult to reach a consensus.
Legal issues are also expected to dominate discussions. The governors plan to contest the federal government’s recent imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State, as well as the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is currently serving as the vice chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. These developments have deepened the party’s internal challenges and sparked fresh concerns about federal overreach in state matters.
Another key issue on the table is the unresolved leadership dispute concerning the position of national secretary. With the Supreme Court having recently issued its Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, the governors hope to determine whether Senator Samuel Anyanwu or Sunday Ude-Okoye is the rightful holder of the position.
2027 loading former president Muhammadu Buhari becomes beautiful bride as barely hours after VP, Atiku Abubakar visited ex-president, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Friday, led members of the party’s National Working Committee on a visit t to Kaduna State.
The visit took place hours after former vice president Atiku Abubakar led the People’s Democratic Party delegation on a courtesy call to the former president.
The delegation included former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai; former governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa; former governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam; former governor of Adamawa, Jibrilla Bindow; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and former Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, El-Rufai said the visit to the former president was not political and asked “adversaries” not to lose sleep.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory added that the visit was for “unity and brotherhood”.
The outcome of the APC NWC’s visit remains unknown; there have been speculations of disunity in the party, as some members of its members recently defected to the Social Democratic Party.
Atiku also cleared the air on Friday, saying that the visit was for the Sallah celebration as against speculated coalition talks.
In a post on his official X handle, Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour.”
The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has scheduled the state council election for July 12.
Mr Tope Ojo, LASIEC’s Head of Public Affairs, made this announcement on Friday in Lagos.
He revealed that the election for 57 council chairmanship positions and 376 councillor seats will take place on July 12. If necessary, a re-run will occur on July 19.
Lagos State comprises 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The election date was chosen to avoid a leadership vacuum in the state’s councils.
LASIEC’s notice confirmed that the election will include 20 Local Governments, 37 LCDAs, and 376 wards.
With the current local government administration nearing its end, LASIEC has ramped up efforts for a smooth election process.
The commission has officially launched the electoral process with the release of the Notice of Election.
Political parties must visit the LASIEC headquarters to obtain nomination forms for their candidates.
Ojo confirmed that a meeting with all registered political parties is set for Tuesday.
“The Election Guidelines will be published on April 17,” Ojo added.
According to him, campaigns and rallies will start on April 18 and end on July 9.
Nomination Forms for “substituted” and “only candidate” submissions must be submitted between June 18 and June 25.
LASIEC Chairman, Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (rtd), assured a fair and level playing field for all political parties.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to holding a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election.
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