The Labour Party has raised serious allegations against its former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, accusing them of collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to seize control of the party’s leadership.

In a press statement, National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh claims that both leaders are attempting to undermine the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

According to the party, INEC filed a counter-affidavit alleging that the tenure of the current executives, including National Chairman Julius Abure, expired in June 2024.

This affidavit, the party argues, is being used by Obi and Otti to justify their formation of a 29-member caretaker committee following an “illegal” stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia.

The statement decried the actions of the former presidential candidate and the governor, who are seen as turning against the party that defended them during the 2023 general elections.

“Labour Party stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia, weathering political and judicial storms. Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal,” Ifoh stated.

The Labour Party also expressed disbelief that the same INEC, which they blame for irregularities in the 2023 elections, is now being embraced by Obi and Otti.

“The INEC you are embracing today is the same INEC, which betrayed us during the last election,” the statement read.

The party vowed to defend its leadership, stressing that the current executives were elected during a valid convention in March 2024, upheld by a Federal High Court ruling.