A member of the Abure-Led faction National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party under the Julius Abure-led faction, Abayomi Arabambi, has reaffirmed his loyalty to Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman, insisting that there is no division within the party despite the lingering Labour Party crisis.
Arabambi made the remarks during Naija Unfiltered podcast interview on Symfoni where he maintained that the Abure-led National Working Committee remains the legitimate leadership of the party while awaiting the final determination of the leadership dispute by the Supreme Court.
His comments come amid the prolonged Labour Party crisis, following a Federal High Court judgment recognising the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the party’s leadership pending the conduct of a national convention. The Abure-led leadership has appealed the judgment and insists the matter is yet to be finally determined by the Supreme Court.
Speaking on the leadership dispute, Arabambi declared that he belongs to the Abure-led leadership and expressed confidence that the apex court would uphold its earlier position that leadership disputes within political parties are internal affairs.
“I belong to the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure. We are presently before the Supreme Court, and I am very sure the court will not depart from its earlier judgments that leadership is an internal affair of the party,” he said.
Despite the legal battle, Arabambi downplayed suggestions of a deep division within the party, describing the situation as a disagreement among members rather than a complete split.
“We have no quarrel, no fight. It is the same party but different people. After the Supreme Court judgment, we can take it from there,” he said.
The Labour Party chieftain acknowledged that both camps have continued to operate independently, including presenting separate candidates for forthcoming elections, but insisted that both groups still belong to the same political party.
According to him, the parallel activities are a consequence of the unresolved leadership dispute, adding that there may still be room for reconciliation after the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.
“It is not a do-or-die affair. It is our party. We may still have reasons to work together as a political party,” Arabambi stated.
The Labour Party crisis has persisted since the aftermath of the 2023 general election, with the Abure-led National Working Committee and the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee laying claim to the party’s leadership.
Arabambi accused some prominent members of the party, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, of turning against the Abure-led leadership after benefiting from the party.
He expressed disappointment with Otti, whom he described as ungrateful to Abure, arguing that the Labour Party leadership gave him the platform that enabled him to emerge as governor.
“I am highly disappointed in his ingratitude. I don’t expect him to put up a fight against his benefactor,” Arabambi said.
The Labour Party official also criticised the growing influence of what he described as individuals attempting to position themselves as leaders of the party, insisting that no individual could simply assume the title of “national leader.”
According to him, leadership within the party should be earned through service and broad acceptance across the country rather than electoral success alone.
The Labour Party crisis has continued to fuel uncertainty within Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election, with both the Abure and Nenadi Usman camps awaiting the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.
While the Abure-led leadership maintains that the Supreme Court will ultimately affirm its position, the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee continues to function based on existing court orders recognising it as the party’s leadership pending the resolution of the dispute.
The final outcome of the litigation is expected to determine the recognised leadership of the Labour Party as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
