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Otti To Abure: Return To The Party You Built As Labour Crisis Deepens.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has called on embattled former Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his supporters to return to the party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
reports that Otti made the appeal on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at its national headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on the possible reintegration of Abure and members of the dissolved NWC, including state chairmen aligned with him, Otti said reconciliation efforts within the party are already producing positive results.
The governor stressed that the Labour Party remains open to all former members willing to return, insisting that no one emerged a loser from the internal crisis.
He said, “No, if you followed the convention, you would discover that over 25 state chairmen of the Abure group that you mentioned actually attended the convention. In fact, they were actually returned as members of the newly elected National Working Committee.
“That was also because part of the charge we gave the National Working Committee to do is to reconcile and bring back as many people as possible. You can see that it is happening. So, in this disagreement, we declared that there was no victor, no vanquished. Everybody is a winner.
“So we will keep our doors open, even for Abure to return to the party that he has worked for. The disagreement is over. We are now reconciling and reintegrating people to ensure that the party emerges stronger.”
Otti also expressed strong confidence in the newly elected leadership under National Chairman Nenadi Usman, saying the new team has the capacity to stabilise the party and position it effectively for future political contests.
He said, “As an observer, I like to say that the meeting went very well. Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, who will lead this party for the next four years. We have absolute confidence in her capacity and ability to lead, just like she did in the last two years as national caretaker chairman.
“I also like to congratulate the other 33 members of the National Working Committee for their level of trust. I do not doubt that as events unfold, including the primaries that will be held within the next month, they will also show their dexterity and capacity in management of the affairs of the party.”
On the recent opposition summit held in Ibadan, Otti clarified that the Labour Party was not involved in any agreement to adopt a single presidential candidate ahead of the next election cycle.
He added, “Unfortunately, we are not part of the summit because we were holding our national convention then. We are not part of this agreement. So we are not bound by what happened there.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Saturday, June 20, 2026, for bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the National Assembly and a state assembly across six states in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that the elections will be conducted in Kebbi, Kano, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa, and Enugu States. The exercise will cover four senatorial seats, one House of Representatives seat, and one State House of Assembly seat. In Ondo State, the vacancy arose after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim left the chamber to serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In Rivers State, the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, while in Nasarawa State, the passing of Senator Godiya Akwashika created another vacancy. In Enugu State, the seat was left empty after the death of Senator Okey Ezea. Kano State will also conduct a House of Representatives election, while Kebbi State will hold a poll to fill a vacant seat in its State House of Assembly. INEC also fixed the same date for the Ekiti State governorship election, meaning multiple electoral activities will take place nationwide on that day. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the timetable during the swearing-in ceremony of a new National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd.). He noted that the commission is preparing for a busy electoral schedule, confirming that both the Ekiti governorship election and the bye-elections will hold simultaneously on June 20, 2026, across the affected areas.
Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliott, has sought forgiveness from the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, saying he hopes to be pardoned if he has offended him during his time in office.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that Elliott made the appeal after obtaining his nomination form to seek re-election for the Surulere Constituency 1 seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician said he holds Gbajabiamila in high regard as a senior political leader, describing him as a guiding figure in public service. He added that if he had made any mistakes in the course of his duties, he was asking for forgiveness and another opportunity to continue serving his constituents.
He said, “Our leader is a compassionate leader. A leader of thought. We are children. Children sometimes err. If I have erred in any way, my leader, I am sorry. Give me another chance, and let’s move on, and let’s bring more dividends of democracy to the people.”
He further clarified that his apology was not based on any direct accusation from Gbajabiamila, but rather a personal reflection.
Elliott also dismissed reports suggesting that groups such as the Surulere Accountability Forum had rejected his ambition, saying he was not aware of such an organisation and describing the claims as politically motivated attempts to cause confusion.
He maintained that he remains actively engaged with his constituency and continues to work closely with residents.
Defending his bid for another term, the lawmaker argued that experience in the legislature is important for effective representation, saying returning lawmakers are better positioned to attract projects, opportunities, and development to their constituencies compared to first-time legislators still learning the system.
The Abia State Government has dismissed the threat by the forum of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairmen in the state to mobilise lawyers for a protest over the ongoing Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The NBA chairmen had alleged that their efforts to engage Governor Alex Otti and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, on resolving the strike were ignored, alongside other complaints. However, responding on Thursday in Umuahia, the state government said it had already made significant progress in resolving the dispute, noting that most of the contentious issues raised by the judiciary workers had been addressed. This position was made known by the Director General of the Strategic Communication Bureau, Onyebuchi Ememanka, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma. The government also argued that the NBA’s stance was based on outdated or incomplete information regarding the status of negotiations with the judiciary workers’ union. Ememanka explained that one of the major issues that triggered the strike was the demand for leave allowance, stressing that the government maintained that workers on consolidated salaries already have leave provisions embedded in their pay structure. He added that during negotiations, even JUSUN officials reportedly confirmed that the government’s position on the matter was correct. On the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciary, the government maintained that there is already substantial compliance in Abia State, noting that the Chief Judge oversees the allocation of funds within the judiciary. It further explained that key administrative functions such as employment, promotion, payment of salaries, and retirement of judiciary staff are handled by the Abia State Judiciary Service Commission, not the executive arm. The government also rejected claims that Governor Otti and the Attorney-General snubbed a proposed courtesy visit by the NBA chairmen, describing the allegation as inaccurate.
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