Kingibe knocks Abure, backs Otti’s 29-man reconciliation panel

The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory district, Ireti Kingibe, on Tuesday, endorsed the 29-member caretaker committee established by the national leader of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Abia Governor Alex Otti, and party stakeholders last week to oversee an expansive national convention.

Kingibe gave her endorsement at the launch of a four-day free medical outreach, which she facilitated for her constituents in Abuja.

The free medical outreach, organised in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, attracted many people seeking eye tests, free treatment, and referrals for suspected cataract cases.

The senator, represented by her senior legislative aide, Dr Chris Omofoma, told The Punch that every LP member knows the tenure of the National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his National Working Committee ended as far back as June 2023.

While noting that Abure and his loyalists have yet to accept this reality, Kingibe explained that Otti and Obi, whom Abure is now opposing, had previously requested an extension of his tenure by an extra year to help recover from the 2023 presidential election loss.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, his National Secretary, Umar Farouk, and the National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, were notably absent from the enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, had called the meeting to resolve the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
However, the Abure-led NWC has opposed the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, describing it as null and void.

She said, “There is really no crisis in Labour. Abure’s NWC refuses to admit that their tenure has ended. Even INEC has clearly stated that Abure’s tenure ended in June 2023.

However, Alex Otti and Peter Obi extended it by one year so the party could recover from the (2023) election losses before conducting the national convention. So, their tenure was extended to June 8, 2024, which has now lapsed.

“So, whatever Alex Otti, Obi, and other party stakeholders are doing is in line with the constitution and INEC guidelines. It is now up to Abure to accept the reality that his tenure is over, and it is time to do what is necessary.

“I fully support the Nenadi Usman-led committee. That is the way forward. Anything else from the Abure-led NWC is illegal.”

Continuing, the FCT senator described Tuesday’s medical outreach as a great success.

According to her, the mission was to provide essential medical services to 5,000 members of her constituency in the FCT.