Labour Party Splits Over 2027 Nomination Forms 

A bitter leadership dispute has resurfaced within Nigeria’s Labour Party, as embattled former National Chairman Julius Abure locks horns with the party’s recognised national leadership and Abia State Governor Alex Otti over the sale of nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The crisis deepened after photographs circulated on social media showing Abure presenting what he described as Labour Party nomination forms to a former National Vice Chairman, Ceekay Igara, and other members in Abia State, an action the party’s official leadership swiftly condemned as fraudulent.

Responding on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, issued a sharp warning to aspirants and supporters against purchasing any forms through Abure’s channels.

“Any so-called Labour Party nomination form obtained from Julius Abure or any other unauthorised source is nothing but worthless paper being peddled by political fraudsters seeking to deceive unsuspecting persons,” Asogwa declared, insisting that Nenadi Usman remains the party’s recognised National Chairman and that all legitimate nomination forms are obtainable only through the official secretariat in Utako, Abuja.

The party further accused Abure of criminal impersonation and questioned why his form distribution activities appeared concentrated in Abia State, warning that Governor Otti would not yield to what it described as “blackmail, intimidation or street-corner political theatrics.”

Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Ukoha, added that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had already ruled in favour of the Usman-led leadership structure, with the Independent National Electoral Commission complying accordingly.

“INEC has also complied with the directive of a competent court of jurisdiction. That is contempt of court on the part of Julius Abure,” Ukoha stated.

Igara, however, defended the distribution of the forms, describing it as a precautionary step pending the outcome of proceedings before the Supreme Court.

“If the Supreme Court later gives him the structure and primaries have closed, what happens?” Igara argued, noting that ongoing consultations meant the forms were being circulated ahead of future primaries only.

Spokesman for the Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, maintained that their group remained the party’s legitimate leadership until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

“We believe that the Nnewi Convention that elected Abure and the NWC, which has not been discharged, is still running,” Ifoh said, dismissing contempt allegations and confirming that nomination forms were being distributed across all 36 states, not Abia State alone.

Ifoh, who also confirmed his own candidacy for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat, likened the faction’s conduct to similar practices in other parties.

Efforts to reach Abure directly were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone went unanswered at the time of filing this report.