In a communique issued after an NWC meeting chaired by Abure, in Abuja, on Tuesday, the party leadership noted that for the avoidance of doubt, no vacancy exists at the national level.
It read in part, “The meeting was called at the instance of the National Chairman of the Party to brief members of the NWC on his recent meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti during which the governor stated his intention to convene a National Executive Meeting (NEC) meeting on Saturday August 31st in order to dissolve the National Executive Council, State Executive Council, Local Government Executive Council and Ward Executive Council on the purported ground that the tenures of the executives have expired. His argument was premised allegedly by INEC that the current executive’s tenures have expired.”
In response, the NWC said, “The national leadership hereby states unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our Party.
” Conscious of the fact that the tenure of the executives was to last till June 2024, the National Convention of the Party was held in March 27, 2024 at Nnewi, Anambra State at which the Governor of Abia State was ably represented by his deputy governor who also doubled as the Chairman of the Convention Committee.
” It must be noted that most of the government functionaries from Abia State including the Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Chief of Staff and indeed all the Labour Party State Assembly members led by the Speaker of the House, Senior Special Assistants and other aides of the governor, were present at that Convention.
” It must be stressed that under the Laws of the land which include the following: the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Labour Party Constitution and indeed, all other laws of the land were adhered to in convening that Convention.
“Article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution provides that it is only the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party who can convene the meetings of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee and National Convention or any other national meeting of the Party.
“In the exercise of that power therefore, on the 20th of December, 2023, the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party issued notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the convening of the National Convention of the Party that was scheduled to hold in March 2024.
“Every registered Political Party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act.
“It was in fulfilment of this provision that the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the Party issued notice to INEC on the 4th of December 2023.”
The party explained that relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the LP Constitution were complied with in convening the Nnewi Convention on March 27th, 2024.
For emphasis, the NWC said, “Therefore, for any person(s), group or agency to speculate that the tenures of the current executives have expired, is not only mischievous but a deliberate attempt to put the Party in comatose.”
It said assuming but not conceding that its tenure has expired, it would not be in the place of Governor Otti, to convene NEC.
“Consequently, the national leadership states clearly, that it will not hesitate to discipline any member of the Party who is not ready to obey the Constitution of the Party and indeed, obey the lawful directive of the leadership of the Party.”
The party also announced the setting up of a seven-member disciplinary committee to be headed by the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Kehinde Edun, for this purpose.