Governor Alex Otti Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Labour Party Leadership, Commends Abia State Chapter for Strengthening the Party
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has lauded the Supreme Court of Nigeria for its recent ruling that reaffirmed the autonomy of political parties in handling their internal affairs. The ruling, which struck out lower court judgments concerning Labour Party leadership disputes, has been hailed by the Governor as a bold and rightful decision that restores order within the party.
Governor Otti made the remarks on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, during a ceremony held in Umuahia, where he received a Coaster bus donated by the Abia State Chapter of the Labour Party, led by Acting State Chairman, Sir Emmanuel Nwaeze Otti. The bus, purchased in the name of the party, is intended to facilitate the movement of members across the state and support party activities.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti expressed gratitude to God and the Supreme Court for resolving what he described as a period of "confusion in the party," which stemmed from contentious lower court rulings. He praised the apex court for affirming that party leadership is an internal matter and outside the jurisdiction of the courts, thus returning ownership of the party to its rightful stakeholders.
"I want to also thank God for finally putting to rest the confusion that was created in the party. I will also use this opportunity to thank the Supreme Court for boldly declaring that the party leadership is an internal affair. And once the party has taken a decision, the court does not have the jurisdiction,"the Governor said.
Governor Otti criticized individuals who "procured"lower court rulings to falsely claim leadership roles within the Labour Party, emphasizing that the Supreme Court ruling has restored legitimacy and unity.
The Governor also commended the Abia State Labour Party leadership for demonstrating independence and initiative, especially in the procurement of the Coaster bus. He described the party as an asset rather than a liability to the state government, praising its commitment to self-sufficiency and growth.
"This is what Labour Party should be like. Instead of being a liability to the Government, the Party is actually an asset and has been able to task itself to procure a big bus like this,"Otti stated.
He extended his appreciation to everyone who contributed to the project and assured the party leadership of his continued support and collaboration.
Earlier, in his address, Sir Emmanuel Nwaeze Otti applauded Governor Otti for his transformational leadership and reaffirmed the commitment of the current party leadership to rebuilding the Labour Party structure in Abia State. He noted that the leadership is focused on development, not self-enrichment, and described the bus donation as a step towards a more functional and united party.
He was joined by members of the State Working Committee and the Chairman of all Local Government Chairmen of the party, who equally praised Governor Otti's unwavering support and the positive impact of his administration on both the state and the party.
This development comes ahead of a scheduled meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party, expected to deliberate further on the future direction of the party following the Supreme Court verdict.
