Supreme Court Ruling: Gov Otti Leads LP Delegation To INEC Headquarters, Presents CTC To Acting Chairman

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Wednesday led a Labour Party delegation to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to discuss recent developments in the party.

Governor Otti formally presented a Certified True Copy of the recent Supreme Court judgment on intraparty conflict in the party noting that the meeting is aimed at fostering clarity, mutual understanding, and institutional alignment regarding the LP’s current structure.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the delegation was received by Acting Chairman of INEC, Mr. Sam Olumekun, and other National Commissioners and the discussions centered on enhancing collaboration and reinforcing democratic values.

Mr. Olumekun reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.

Former NBA president, Mr Olumide Akpata was a member of the LP delegation.

Governor Alex Otti had earlier in the day presented the 48-page CTC before the Labour Party ‘s stakeholders in Abuja, noting that the document has put an end to the debate of misinterpretation of the verdict.

‘I want to say that we welcome the Supreme Court judgment of last Friday, which Certified True Copy just arrived a few minutes ago. The 48-page document was very clear in saying that it is all of you seated here that constitutes the leadership of the party. I also want to make a point that we are law-abiding people.

We sat on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia, where we unanimously elected a 29-man caretaker committee. Shortly after that exercise, our brothers, on the other side, went to court and got a judgment that pronounced them the leaders of the party.

If we are not law-abiding, we would have started dragging the office. But we all said, since there was a court judgment, let us follow the process which ended last Friday.

We expected that everybody who wants the survival of democracy and the progress of this country would have accepted that judgment. So, you may not like the judgment, but you must obey it’ he said.

In attendance at the ‘stakeholder meeting’ were Mr Peter Obi, Senator Victor Umeh; Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku; and the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, former senator Darlington Nwokocha, and  Esther Nenadi Usman.

‘The same issue submitted for determination is hereby jointly in favour of the appellants. And the appellants are Distinguished Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha. In summary, both the trial courts and the one below have no jurisdiction to entertain the first respondent, Julius Abure.Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both trial courts and the one below in recognizing Julius Abure as the national chairman of the party is hereby set aside and struck out for want of jurisdiction. In the vein, the first respondent’s cross-appeal, being an offshoot of the same judgment of the courts below, is hereby dismissed’ Governor Otii submitted while reading out part of the ruling.

The governor also recalled how he had advised Abure to step down and accept the role of the chairman of the LP Board of Trustees.

 ‘But I gave Abure some piece of advice, saying if I were you, I wouldn’t want to lead people who don’t want me as a leader. So, we are still extending the olive branch to him and his former National Working Committee. The leadership of every party should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of their tenure.

Before I am done, may I appeal to political parties and their members to endeavour to always allow their constitutions, regulations and rules to guide them in choosing their officers and candidates.

That way, the incessant internal wrangling which always finds its way to court will be reduced. The leadership of every party should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of their tenure’ he said.

Also speaking, Mr Peter Obi applauded his supporters and Nigerians for being patient and standing solidly behind them.

‘As leaders and elected members of this great party, we are going to leave from here to INEC to submit this document (CTC) so that we can start the process.

We will go there now and say, here are the documents from the court. This is our resolution. So, can we now start the process of rebuilding with your cooperation’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you