Labor Party Welcomes Potential Return of Julius Habre Ahead of 2027 Elections
Abia State Governor Alex Otti announced on Thursday that the Labor Party is receptive to the reinstatement of former national chairman Julius Habre and his associates in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. Otti made these remarks during the inaugural meeting of the party’s National Working Committee, held at its headquarters in Abuja.
In response to speculation regarding the potential reintegration of Habre and the disbanded members of the national committee, including the state chairman, Otti indicated that efforts toward reconciliation are already yielding positive outcomes. He noted that over 25 state chairmen from Habre’s group participated in the recent convention, and many were reintegrated into the newly elected national working committee.
“Our objective is to reconcile and bring back as many people as possible into the fold,” Otti emphasized. “In this disagreement, we declared there are no winners and no losers. Everyone is a winner.” Otti further stated that the party is committed to fostering unity, indicating that the door remains open for Habre’s return to the party he once served.
The governor expressed confidence in the newly elected leadership, headed by National Chairman Nenadi Usman, to stabilize the party and prepare it for upcoming electoral challenges. “The conference went very well,” he remarked, extending his congratulations to Usman for her new four-year term. Otti highlighted his trust in her leadership capabilities, which she demonstrated during her tenure as the interim National Chairman.
Otti also praised the collective competence of the 33 members of the National Working Committee, expressing no doubt that they will effectively navigate the complexities of party politics, especially as primary elections approach within the next month.
In a separate development, Otti rejected the recent claims originating from the Ibadan Opposition Leaders Meeting, clarifying that Labor Party was not a participant in discussions aimed at adopting a single presidential candidate for the upcoming election cycle. “Unfortunately, we were engaged in a national conference at that time, making us unaware of the summit,” he explained. “We are not bound by what transpired there.”
Otti’s conciliatory approach surfaces amidst ongoing tensions within the party, which arose from a leadership tussle between Habre and an interim committee led by Ousmane. This rift intensified after the Court of Appeal confirmed Ousmane’s leadership; however, Habre has contested this ruling, vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court. He insists that the leadership dispute is an internal issue not subject to judicial oversight and claims that the ruling contradicts established legal standards.
The Court of Appeal’s decision reaffirmed a prior ruling by the Federal High Court that recognized Usman as the legitimate leader of the Labor Party. The situation escalated further when the Independent National Electoral Commission, following the Federal High Court’s directive, officially acknowledged Usman’s National Management Committee as the true governing body of the party. This recognition comes after weeks of intense internal conflict, parallel leadership claims, and a protracted legal battle stemming from the 2023 general elections.
