-As NEC Ratifies NCC, Passes Vote of Confidence on ex-Gov, Otti
By Myke Agunwa
As political realignment ahead of 2027 begins, national leader and Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has denied involvement in any coalition with other political elements, stating that members of the party must have a say in whatever decision LP hopes to make in relation to mergers and coalition.
Speaking at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Wednesday in Abuja, Obi reaffirmed his membership of LP and dissociated himself from reports linking him to abandoning the party.
He said, “Some have speculated on some things, some have even said, he (Obi) has left Labour Party, some of us are on our way out, some of us are on our way in. Let me assure you that we are in Labour Party. We have never discussed with any other party.
“If we are going to discuss with anybody, we will discuss jointly from our house at Labour Party. No party will tell you that they’ve seen me discussing with them. And like I always say, I alone will not sit down and discuss. Everybody, leadership, and stakeholders will want to be part of it. It is not because of my choice, it is the choice of everybody. We must move and do everything we are doing as a family because we have chosen to be a family and this family does not exclude anybody. Like Governor Otti has said, let’s do the right thing.”
Also speaking, the Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba- Ahmed said that with 10m votes in the 2023 general election which was later reduced to 6m, LP stands out among all the political party to become a beautiful bride and a melting pot of any political party that seeks coalition or merger.
He said, “Labour Party scored 10m votes reduced to 6.1m votes. Now that the political platform is in search of the so-called coalition, the only platform they should be talking about should be Labour Party not another party that scored nothing close to 100,000. Labour Party is the party to be in. Why should we join a party that has no governor, no senator with less than 1 million votes?
“If I may ask, is there something about the Labour Party that they are afraid of? Is there something in Labour Party they don’t want Nigerians to enjoy? Is there something positive that Labour Party will bring to Nigeria and they really want to avoid it?
“Now that we are back on course, please hold this instructive argument. We are the one with the vote, and if anybody is looking for any other platform, it should be Labour Party” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of Labour Party (LP) has received the necessary support and backing of party members to commence repositioning of the party following a vote of confidence and legitimacy conferred on them at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Wednesday in Abuja.
NEC also passed vote of confidence on its only governor Dr. Alex Otti, as a result of the revolutionary governance he is bringing to bear in Abia state.
This is just as the highest decision-making organ of the party (NEC) also reaffirmed its confidence on its leader, Mr. Peter Obi.
Following a motion moved by Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) in the Red chambers and seconded by the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, NEC expressed satisfaction with the decision of the stakeholders in Umuahia on September 4, 2024 where a 29-man NCC was constituted.
Moving the motion, Sen. Umeh said, “Recall that on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia, stakeholders unanimously elected 29 members to manage the affairs of this party. Also on the 4th of April 2025, the Supreme Court, in its wisdom, ratified the decision of April 4, 2024.
“I, Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly, move a motion that NEC should ratify this nomination so that the National Caretaker Committee will have the legitimacy to carry out the responsibilities that the party imposed on them.
In a thunderous voice vote, NEC members overwhelmingly shouted a resounding “I” in support of the motion, just as there was no “nay” in opposition to the motion.
Similarly, NEC in an overwhelming voice vote, also passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Peter Obi and Alex Otti following a motion moved by Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Austin Meregini and supported by the representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).