A coalition of Northern groups, under the umbrella of Northern Obidients Youth Assembly (NOYA), has warned against alleged plots to sabotage Peter Obi’s legacy in the Labour Party.

This development came amidst growing concerns about internal conflicts within the Labour Party, potentially threatening its chances in the upcoming elections in 2027.

The group’s coordinator, Hussaini Mukhtar, alleged in a statement that some individuals within the party are working to destabilize the party’s structure, paving the way for Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to join another party.

Mukhtar accused the Nigeria Labour Congress National Transition Committee (NLC NTC) of misleading Governor Otti into believing he is the party’s leader, contrary to the party’s constitution and electoral act.

NOYA alleged that the NLC NTC plans to form an illegal parallel National Working Committee (NWC) to further destabilize the party, creating an opportunity for Governor Otti to defect to another party.

The group warned Governor Otti against being used to destroy the Labour Party and Peter Obi’s chances in the 2027 elections.

NOYA urged the Labour Party leadership to take decisive action to prevent internal sabotage and ensure discipline within the party ranks.

Mukhtar, “Their agenda is to use Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to play the same role being played in PDP by Wike, therefore destroying the party from within and paving way for the Governor to join other party. They are aware that this will lead to a protracted legal battle, resulting in collateral damage… and giving the APC easy win in 2027.

“We were reliably informed about the decision to form an illegal parallel NWC for the party in coming days. This will be counter productive and will deepen the crisis in the party. We will advise His Excellency the Executive Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti to think about the sacrifices of Obidients and His Excellency Peter Obi in giving him the platform that brought him to power and be weary of the NTC as they do not mean well for our party.

“They know that Labour Party is a strong force that will dislodge the APC in 2027, so, they are now using the NTC as a tool to destabilise the party as they have already destabilised the PDP. It will be very unfortunate if Governor Otti will allow himself to be used by the other party and the NTC to destroy the labour party and the Obidient Movement that gave him the platform to win election in 2023.

“This is the time to come together and work together in order to strengthen our structures across the country. The other parties are busy buying up opposition political parties and its members, let us put heads together form a formidable force to take over power in 2027. The Labour Party Qqqqq

The Barrister Ugochukwu Agballah faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, on Saturday, announced the suspension of 20 members of the party.

This is coming days after another faction of the party announced the suspension of Agballah, alongside other party officials.

However, arising from a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s secretariat, the Agballah-led group announced the suspension of all those involved in the earlier action.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, former lawmaker, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, Agballah, among others.

Eneukwu, who represented the National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Ganduje said Agballah remained the chairman of the party in Enugu State.

He said the national secretariat of the APC was unaware of the removal of Agballah, as the purported action did not follow due process.

Meanwhile, in a communique read by Senator Utazi, the party announced the suspension of the following persons: Uche Egbonwonu, Chibuike Onoduagu, Ubah Onah, Clifford Ezema, Ages Agu, Paul Olinya, the Welfare Secretary, Innocent Uroko, Obetta Ifeoma, Zonal Youth Leader, Harrison Obochi and Publicity Secretary, Michael Ezeanyanwu.

Others are Zonal Chairman, West, Alphonsus Nwafor, State Asst. Organising Secretary, David Nwobodo, State Asst Auditor, Sunday Onah, State Youth Leader, Peter Chime, Enugu South LGA Chairman, Ndubuisi Agbo, Enugu West Zonal Youth Leader, Onyeka Ezegbunam, Awgu LGA Secretary, Samuel Okonkwo, Innocent Ogbodo, Nnamani Denis Sunday and Eze Ugwu Christian.

The communique said the meeting frowned at” the recent display of gross indiscipline and total disregard to the APC Constitution by some misguided party members who met in a hotel and purportedly announced the suspension of the Enugu state Chairman of APC, Hon. Ugochukwu H. Agballah; the State Deputy Chairman, Chief Augustine Alumonah; the State Treasurer, Hon Jude Aniogbo and the State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emeka Eze.”

The stakeholders alleged that the actors were only 14 in number but that they went ahead to forge peoples signatures and append their names as if they were part of the illegality, without their consent.

“More than 35 persons whose signatures were forged and names appended in the purported suspension document without their consent have issued a disclaimer distancing themselves from the illegality.

“The stakeholders further observed that the purported suspension did not follow due process as no meeting was held, no petition was written and it was never discussed at SEC and the national levels were never notified, no fact finding was made in accordance with the party’s Constitution before the purported announcement of illegal suspension.

“The stakeholders hereby accept the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee suspending the actors from the party.

“They were invited by the Disciplinary Committee to state their position but they refused to come. They were therefore given fair hearing.”

The Party said It had set up an eight-man Committee to review the case of those who were earlier suspended by the party but have now indicated interest to return to the party.

The Enugu APC stakeholders thanked Ndigbo for not participating in the recent protest against the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“We have absolute confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

“The APC Enugu State is ready and will fully participate in the forthcoming Enugu State Local government Council Elections,” the communique further read.

It could be recalled that a High Court sitting in Enugu had also restrained Agballah and some others from parading themselves as officials of the party.

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